NATS’ TAKE

PASSENGER EDICATE – By Natali Perera

Getting my licence made me think about what type of passenger I was. I would look at various people who got into my car and think to myself, do I act like that? Do I do what they’re doing right now? Small things like wanting to open the window instead of turning on the aircon in the car; that makes a difference to the driver! That drumming noise the wind makes when you don’t have all your windows open the right amount, that’s enough to burst a drum.

So this made me think, is there such a thing as passenger edicate? Are there just some things that passengers should avoid doing when they are being driven around?

With exception obviously, these are the rules that I believe all passengers should be considerate about:

1. Lateness complaints, you are being given a lift. At least you’re getting to the venue! They don’t need to pick you up, the fact that they are picking you up is going to make them even more late! So, shouldn’t they be the ones that should be complaining because you can’t drive, don’t want to drive or can’t Uber it there yourself?

2. Pretending to be the driver, nothing gets me more nervous while driving than when my friend is in the passenger seat also looking at whether the right lane is clear for me to merge, or WORSE, when the left lane is clear! It doesn’t matter how many times you (as a passenger) looks out into the road, the driver doesn’t have your eyes! What you see is not the same as what they can see, and their judgement is not the same as yours either.

3. Changing car settings, with most car owners, each setting is usually preadjusted to exactly the way they like it! The aircon temperature, radio, seat and even the light; all set to exactly to the right setting they are comfortable with, so if the aircon is set on cold, ask before you start pressing on bits and bobs trying to figure out why you want hot air and only cold is coming out.

4. Backseat drivers, this is, the worst (for me). People who get overly sensitive about everyone around them. I know a lot of friends who are car fanatics, so driving with them is as if you are resitting your driving test again. The foot tapping, gasping, and the “you shouldn’t have taken this road” after you have already turned, as if they were waiting this whole time to say that to you, because why would you not tell me that back when you realised that I was going to turn here. I know you didn’t just realise now! It gets me on edge! If you want to get so angry at all the cars we’re passing, then take their number plate down and tell them! Don’t ask me to press my horn, because you want to teach them a lesson, teach them while you’re driving your car.

This all may sometimes stem from a good place. However, just think about how you feel when someone in the back seat of your car is enraged by the driver in front of you, and is shouting at you to horn at them. It’s not your car and therefore not your rules.