subject: How to be a Good Passenger [print this page] How to be a Good Passenger How to be a Good Passenger
Seems like there is an easy answer to this question, right? All you do is sit there, with your seat belt and enjoy the ride. But passengers can distract drivers from the task in hand, making it increasingly difficult to avoid accidents.
A passenger should effectively help drive the car. Said Tommy Kendall four times Trans Am champion race car driver and commentator, "Basically, help drive the car. Be the eyes and ears when the driver is pulling out onto a highway or making a turn. Turn your head and lean back if the driver's trying to see if anything's on the right, or look yourself and inform the driver. Don't make the driver ask you to put your seatbelt on. And If you're a on a journey to somewhere you've both never been and you have no Nav system, be the navigator."
When a passenger talks on the phone they are zoning, and not paying attention to the road. It's hard for a driver to then zone out, and it is distracting when they are trying to concentrate on other things.
If someone is being so kind as to drive you, don't point out any mistakes that they make, it's really distracting to the driver and adds to stress levels, making it more likely for them to crash their vehicle. Also, don't make any comments in tight situations, as you are actually more likely to make them crash.
If you are driving in the UK, make sure that you have a valid Car Insurance policy, as this is a legal requirement in the UK.
