Passengers can help avoid a motor vehicle crash as safe driving does not always stop with the driver. Arriving safely is always the goal for everyone in a vehicle. Any diversion of your attention away from the safe operation of your vehicle, like chatting with passengers, eating or drinking, or adjusting radio or vehicle settings, can contribute to distracted and inattentive driving. We all play a part in making our roads safe – whether you are a driver or a passenger in a vehicle.
Here Are 8 Things You Can Do as a Passenger to Help Avoid a Collision
- Avoid being a distraction – Do not be a distraction to the driver as they need to keep their eyes on the road.
- Keep a calm environment. Avoid playing extremely loud music as it can be a distraction for the driver and being able to hear horns and sirens is an important part of road safety;
- Limit your cell phone use while you are passenger. The driver may be tempted to be included in the conversation thus diverting their attention from the roadway where it is needed.
- Although backseat driving is dangerous, you can help if there is an imminent danger. If you notice an unexpected hazard, such as a child on the road or a large animal, speak up sternly and politely to alert the driver. This is especially important while reversing.
- Help with navigation. Many people are using their cell phones to navigate to their destination. GPS is a great tool to use but when a driver takes their eyes off the highway to look at their cell phone screen even for directions it creates a dangerous situation. Most cell phones will offer speech navigation which should be turned on.
- Discourage Texting and Driving. Texting and driving is proven to be one of the most dangerous activities today. Preferably, as a driver your phone should be on silent, be out of view and you should wait until you have arrived to your destination before responding to text messages;
- Don’t add stress. It’s essential to support safe driving habits and be on the lookout for road issues but passengers who point out everything the driver does wrong or comments on their friend’s way of driving is just adding to the stress of the drive.
A couple of years ago, I was a passenger in a family member’s vehicle and I when I heard their cell phone go off, I was completely shocked to watch him reach for his phone to read the text. I instantly spoke up and reminded him that I almost lost my life to a distracted driver and he brushed it off like it was not a big deal and ignored my request to put the put the phone down. Needless to say, we were five minutes away from my home and when he dropped me off, I was quite upset because he did not respect my wishes as a passenger in his vehicle. To this day, I have never stepped into his vehicle again.
No one wants to be confrontational while driving but passengers need to pay attention and if the driver repeatedly engages in unsafe behavior, you must speak up! Your life and other drivers on the road depend on it.
S. Dawne McKay is a survivor of a horrific crash that changed her life forever. Dawne shares her personal journey as a Crash Survivor Blogger and also collaborates with crash survivors as Guest Bloggers allowing them an opportunity to share their stories. Dawne is also the author of the book, “Talk Crash to Me – What to Expect After Surviving a Collision and How to Manage Your Recovery” which is available for purchase on Amazon.
The Crash Support Network is a unique one-of-a-kind website consisting of an online support group, a crash survivor blog, a quarterly newsletter, “Sharing Our Recovery” as well as highly informative articles. Our website is based on relationship-building and puts the needs of survivors first by creating a helpful resource for victims and survivors of motor vehicle crashes.
