Five things that passengers are expected to do

We recently covered the five things you should never touch in someone else’s car as a passenger which we admit, became a bit of a rant about a particular writer’s girlfriend. But hey, as they say write what you know...

So we thought we would flip the page and discuss what passengers should do, and what is expected of them when they get into someone else’s car.

A touchy subject we know. One that has broken many relationships in the past, but couples can generally rest easy after the evolution of Cartography from the paperback Melways directory to easy and accessible smartphone map apps. As a passenger, there is no longer an excuse for getting the driver lost. We suggest giving a 2km notice before a freeway exit, and 500 metre warning on all other streets. Giving the driver 50 metres to merge into the left lane and slowdown from 80km/h and execute a safe turn is not what we call good navigating. Also make sure you know your lefts from your rights…

Like a pit stop at the Australian Grand Prix, a stop at the local shops needs to be fast and efficient. Therefore, the responsibility falls onto the passenger to make the quick dash to pick up the snacks or a case of green demons while the driver circles the carpark (or sits sneakily in a loading bay). Bonus points if you bring back an unexpected treat for your chauffeur, like a Bubble O’Bill on a hot day.

Whether it’s $1 frozen Coke on a summer day or 24 nuggets at 3am, as a passenger it’s up to you to have the money ready when you pull up to the first window. When the food is received at the next window, the driver tax must also be paid (generally a sip of your drink or a lick of your soft serve).  There’s also a threshold where you should offer to pay for the driver, here at carsales HQ that threshold is anything under $10.

If you’re calling shotgun on that front seat, it is expected that you’re at the driver’s beck and call to ensure they have everything they need to get you there safely. It’s a lonely feeling when you turn around as a driver and see all 4 of your passengers fast asleep. You realise that it’s just you and 300km of straight freeway ahead. To make things worse, your playlist has finished and Spotify seems to think that Kylie Minogue’s Loco-Motion is ‘related music’ to Cold Chisel: Greatest Hits.

If you find yourself in the front seat, you better be prepared to become ‘DJ Shotgun’. This is, of course, only if instructed by the driver. Read the room…no heavy metal or house music before midday is generally a good rule to follow. Alternatively, acoustic or mellow music on the way to a night out may not be appreciated either. A set and forget playlist is a safe bet, especially if you don’t want to hang your credibility on the line each song you play.

Related: Five things you should never touch in someone else's car

Related: The etiquette of borrowing your friend’s car

Related: The five types of passengers we've all had in the car