Most drivers carry passengers at some point, be it their family, friends or just their faithful canine companion. Doing so can be beneficial. A driver who has someone to chat to may be less likely to fall asleep at the wheel. A driver with a tendency to lose their temper may be calmed by the presence of their dog beside them.
However, passengers can also be the source of danger, as they often distract their drivers. Here are some examples.
Great conversation can make for terrible driving
Some conversation are so engaging that you lose yourself in them. You may be gesturing with your hands, looking intently at each other or crying with laughter. When someone pulls you into their world like that while driving, they take you out of the world you really need to be fully present in – that of the road around you.
Hands belong on the wheel
You should generally keep both hands on the wheel while driving- it allows you steer better, which could be important if you need to maneuver to avoid a hazard. Reaching out to rub your dog’s head, hold your partner’s hand or pass your child a snack all reduce your ability to steer the car.
Even doing nothing may be dangerous
People often argue about something then have to get in the car together, or they argue during the journey itself. Even if they don’t exchange a word or a glance from then on, they may spend the drive fuming in silence at each other or ruminating over what was said. This leaves the driver less attention for the road around them.
As you can passengers can prove distracting to driver in many ways. If you are in a collision caused by another driver who had a passenger, it’s worth considering whether distraction might help explain the crash.