(no subject)
During a recent road trip, I was thinking a lot about passenger and driver etiquette, and I came up with what I think is a fair, safe and commonsense code of conduct which can be applied to all road trips.
1. Concerning the driver:
1a: The driver must be someone competent to drive the car, and have the appropriate ability to operate the automobile’s machinery. Said driver must also feel "up to" driving, and must have had adequate sleep, and no intoxicants. He or she must also be adequately insured to drive the car in question.
1b: The driver has absolute veto power over everything. This includes any or all of the following:
- music
- the identity of the person in the front passenger seat
- the car’s temperature
- any stops made during the driving period
The reason for this absolute veto power is that the driver must remain focused, awake, comfortable and happy. He/she is literally holding everyone else’s lives in his/her hands, and deserves to at least have say over the environment and circumstances of his/her driving. The other passengers should appreciate their ability to relax at will, and should honor the driver’s wishes. The driver may of course choose to waive his/her veto rights if he/she so chooses.
1c: Non-driving, qualified, sober, rested passengers should offer to take over the duties of driving whenever the current driver wishes to be relieved of his/her duties.
1d: The driver is obligated to drive as safely as possible, which includes maintaining a reasonable speed, and refraining from tailgating or doing anything else which is overly risky and which may compromise the safety of the vehicle or its passengers. Unsafe drivers will be stripped of their position in order to allow a more conscientious person to take over the wheel.
2. Concerning "shotgun"
2a: "Shotgun" can of course only be called when the car is in plain view.
2b: There are no rules about how many times a person may sit shotgun. If you forget to call it all of the time, that’s just too bad for you, mister.
2c: The driver has veto power over who may sit shotgun. Also, it may be desirable for the car’s owner (if he/she is not the current driver) to sit shotgun.
2d: The person in shotgun position is obligated to stay awake and aid the driver in staying alert and engaged. This can best be accomplished through conversation. Shotgun must keep in mind, however, that he/she must not distract the driver too much. If the person in shotgun does not feel that he/she can complete any or all of these duties, then he/she must surrender shotgun to one of the other passengers. If there are no other passengers in the car, then shotgun must do everything in his/her power to stay awake and keep the driver company.
2e: The person in shotgun position is responsible for any or all of the following, at the driver’s request:
- keeping track of directions
- operating the stereo (although the driver must be able to choose what music is played)
- controlling the car’s temperature
- helping the driver eat or retrieve items which he/she desires.
3.Concerning other passengers:
3a: Other passengers are free to sleep or do whatever they want, as long as they do not distract the driver.
3b: Other passengers who are qualified drivers should be prepared to switch into driving position, given they are insured, rested and sober enough to drive.
4. Concerning gas purchases:
4a: Ideally, the driver should NOT have to pay for gas, especially if he/she is driving the entire way. Other passengers in the car get to relax and chill and smoke joints, and do not have to bear the immense responsibility that driving implies. This means that they should contribute financially.
4b: If the driver of the car is also the owner of the car, this is added reason for him/her to be excused from paying for gas. Owning a car is expensive, and the car owner is already contributing money by contributing a vehicle to the cause.
4c: The amount that each passenger owes for gas should be decided based on a general mathematical combination of the above factors.
1. Concerning the driver:
1a: The driver must be someone competent to drive the car, and have the appropriate ability to operate the automobile’s machinery. Said driver must also feel "up to" driving, and must have had adequate sleep, and no intoxicants. He or she must also be adequately insured to drive the car in question.
1b: The driver has absolute veto power over everything. This includes any or all of the following:
- music
- the identity of the person in the front passenger seat
- the car’s temperature
- any stops made during the driving period
The reason for this absolute veto power is that the driver must remain focused, awake, comfortable and happy. He/she is literally holding everyone else’s lives in his/her hands, and deserves to at least have say over the environment and circumstances of his/her driving. The other passengers should appreciate their ability to relax at will, and should honor the driver’s wishes. The driver may of course choose to waive his/her veto rights if he/she so chooses.
1c: Non-driving, qualified, sober, rested passengers should offer to take over the duties of driving whenever the current driver wishes to be relieved of his/her duties.
1d: The driver is obligated to drive as safely as possible, which includes maintaining a reasonable speed, and refraining from tailgating or doing anything else which is overly risky and which may compromise the safety of the vehicle or its passengers. Unsafe drivers will be stripped of their position in order to allow a more conscientious person to take over the wheel.
2. Concerning "shotgun"
2a: "Shotgun" can of course only be called when the car is in plain view.
2b: There are no rules about how many times a person may sit shotgun. If you forget to call it all of the time, that’s just too bad for you, mister.
2c: The driver has veto power over who may sit shotgun. Also, it may be desirable for the car’s owner (if he/she is not the current driver) to sit shotgun.
2d: The person in shotgun position is obligated to stay awake and aid the driver in staying alert and engaged. This can best be accomplished through conversation. Shotgun must keep in mind, however, that he/she must not distract the driver too much. If the person in shotgun does not feel that he/she can complete any or all of these duties, then he/she must surrender shotgun to one of the other passengers. If there are no other passengers in the car, then shotgun must do everything in his/her power to stay awake and keep the driver company.
2e: The person in shotgun position is responsible for any or all of the following, at the driver’s request:
- keeping track of directions
- operating the stereo (although the driver must be able to choose what music is played)
- controlling the car’s temperature
- helping the driver eat or retrieve items which he/she desires.
3.Concerning other passengers:
3a: Other passengers are free to sleep or do whatever they want, as long as they do not distract the driver.
3b: Other passengers who are qualified drivers should be prepared to switch into driving position, given they are insured, rested and sober enough to drive.
4. Concerning gas purchases:
4a: Ideally, the driver should NOT have to pay for gas, especially if he/she is driving the entire way. Other passengers in the car get to relax and chill and smoke joints, and do not have to bear the immense responsibility that driving implies. This means that they should contribute financially.
4b: If the driver of the car is also the owner of the car, this is added reason for him/her to be excused from paying for gas. Owning a car is expensive, and the car owner is already contributing money by contributing a vehicle to the cause.
4c: The amount that each passenger owes for gas should be decided based on a general mathematical combination of the above factors.