There’s something special about just being the passenger | Articles

It must be something with how my brain is wired, but I do not like being a passenger. If I’m in a car, I really prefer to be driving.

And my (now medicated) AD/HD ensures that I also take note of all the little things while I drive–new apartment complexes, people walking on the sidewalk, passing the same car at the same place for the third day in a row, that car behind me is weaving through traffic so I better be ready to get rear-ended in case he doesn’t see me slowing down, etc.

The day before we left, my friend asked who was driving. If he was up for it, I replied, I’d be so happy. I had just done and up-and-back to see my folks plus some running around in the state. He drive a lot for work, so if he didn’t want to drive, no hard feelings at all. 

I admit, it was very nice being driven. He picked me up, I got in the right seat, and I enjoyed the view and the exhaust note. 

I’m okay being a passenger if the driver is attentive, has acceptable skill operating the machine, and has situational awareness.

In short, I rarely am comfortable as a passenger.

I make my living as a passenger, so I’m quite used to it and it doesn’t bother me at all.

I spent some of last week riding on twisty mountain roads with my 85-year-old father behind the wheel. 

He was very attentive. Power on coming out of the corner, late braking into them. He is not what I would call smooth. Unfortunately, he was driving a 2004 Dodge 2500 diesel. I damn near ended up car sick. 

I do not enjoy being a passenger. 

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

I’m okay being a passenger if the driver is attentive, has acceptable skill operating the machine, and has situational awareness.

In short, I rarely am comfortable as a passenger.

This.  It’s 100% dependent on the nut behind the wheel for me.  In states like Texas where drivers education is an absolute joke*, I’d rather drive unless I know the other person is competent.

*My wife and I do joke when when we see a turn signal being used correctly:  “Huh.  Turn signal is on and they’re actually turning…must not be from around here.”  

I am usually a very bad passenger.  When my wife drives, I have to close my eyes or stare out the window.  All the while biting down on my tongue until it bleeds.

I have no problem flipping the keys to my 17 year old, though, and letting her drive me around.  It’s so relaxing, I can look around and see the stuff I can’t look at when I’m driving, and if I want to indulge in some adult beverages I can do so without any worry.  Pretty soon here I’m going to have to get back to teaching her how to drive with a trailer attached (we’ve done some trailer backing practice, but that’s about it) and then how to drive a motorhome.

Depends on who is driving. If my buddy B.W. that I race with is driving, not a problem.  I can fall asleep with him at the wheel and be fine with it. Local dirt track has a two seat modified to give fans rides during intermission and he is one of the drivers for that. Still waiting for my turn.

If my wife is driving, I prefer to be in a medically induced coma. Mailboxes seem so freaking close on that side of the car. 

I was front seat passenger for a bus run in Jamaica last spring.  Speeding down the center lane, straight at oncoming traffic, missing everything on every side by inches, last minute maneuvers.  I never even flinched, just kept on sight seeing.  Once at our destination the driver questions, “Do you drive?”  My calm to his crazy was a sign.

Tourist vans get their own set of rules because everyone knows tourist bring the money, it was actually pretty wild how well it worked.