The great debate: Who gets to be DJ, driver or passenger?
It is a question almost as old as time itself, on a road trip, who should be in charge of the music? We weigh up the options ahead of your next trip.The horn honks in the driveway and you grab your bag and race outside. In the waiting car your friends are already excitedly munching on the car snacks, bags spill out from the packed boot and the music is blaring.
The start of a road trip is full of excitement and good vibes. As you escape from the city’s congestion and start to feel the road open up ahead of you, there’s nothing that can ruin the mood.
Nothing, except bad music!
The old adage, ‘one man's trash is another man's treasure’ is especially true when it comes to music selection. So unless you want the battle between John Farnham and Cardi B; classic rock or soft pop to ruin your road trip, it’s time to find the answer to the age-old debate.
Who gets to be car DJ: driver or passenger?
Arguments for the driver:
• They're the ones doing the hard work, so they should get to be rewarded with their favourite music
• They need to feel relaxed and in a good mood when driving
• They don't get to take in the scenery or read a book, so they should get to sing along to their favourite tunes
• The driver won't be tempted to scroll on their phone and get distracted by DJ responsibilities
Arguments for the passenger:
• Safety first - they are the ones with their hands free to choose the music
• If they really take their job seriously, they should make playlists ahead of time
• The passenger is in charge of snack distribution, navigation and nearest toilet breaks, so it makes sense to also be in charge of music
• The passenger can take requests from the driver or other passengers
• The passenger can read the vibe of the car, and choose the music accordingly.
• On long road trips, the driver may get tired and lose the ability to choose good music.
While it’s a close one, we have to give the win to the passenger. Safety is no laughing matter, so it makes sense that the passenger assumes the role of DJ and can pick songs on Spotify or the radio without the added responsibility of driving.
That being said, the driver is doing all the hard work, so they should at least be consulted on which music genre they want to hear.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Head over to our Facebook page and cast your vote.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What about the back seat passengers?
A: Forget about it! Just like back seat drivers, no one likes a back seat DJ.
Q: What is the rule on repeats?
A: No repeats. Whatsoever. The DJ should make it their personal mission to ensure this never happens.
Q: What about requests?
A: Requests are allowed, but the DJ has the power to reject any requests as he or she deems unworthy.
Q: Who gets the phone charger?
A: Whoever’s phone is being used for navigation. No doubt.
Q: How many skips are allowed?
A: Everyone should be allocated three skips per day - use them wisely.
Q: What about podcasts?
A: Podcasts are even more personal than music, so they are only allowed if everyone in the car agrees to it.
Related: Five things that passengers are expected to do
Related: Spotify playlist data reveals most popular driving songs
Related: The five types of passengers we've all had in the car
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