Road Tripping

Piling in the car with some friends and just driving somewhere for the day is a great way to entertain yourself on a weekend. There are some things though that should be kept in mind to make it the most fun and keep it safe. People need to not distract the driver outside of normal conversation. Deep thinking questions pull the attention away from the act of driving, and can lead to crashing. Don't ask the driver to go look at something on your phone, or try to grab something from the center console. Let them do their job and keep everyone safe. When going on a trip everyone has a job, and everyone should do their job to keep the road trip moving efficiently.

The Driver - As the driver your job really is to just get people from point A to point B, in one piece preferably. You provide the car, you keep track of the necessary items for driving such as a tools to change a tire, information about the car, and when you need to get gas. Seriously though, just keep track of driving. Watch for idiots on the road, and focus on how to get around them with the least risk. You hold the lives of everyone else in the car in your hands. That should scare you if you aren't paying attention to the road. Sure you can talk to people, but when you need to, prioritize driving.

The Copilot - You might have been the person who just yelled "SHOTGUN!" first but that doesn't mean you're off the hook. You have the second most important job when on a road trip. You have to make sure everyone is happy with the temperature, the music, and most importantly, provide directions and alert the driver when there are gas or food stops coming up. Yes, that's a lot to do, and you still have more. You have to make sure the driver doesn't fall asleep, so maintain a conversation that they are interested in, and regularly check if they are doing okay if you are out driving at night. If needed, you will help delegate who drives next.

The Backseaters - You guys have it easy, you just have to maintain conversation that keeps both the driver and your copilot entertained. One of you will be the snack grabber, and regulate passing around drinks and snacks to and from the front seat. If you are the only one in the back seat, you may not fall asleep until you are sure it is okay to do so, otherwise one of the backseaters needs to stay up to maintain the job while the others sleep. Sleeping is a privilege, so do not abuse your right to sleep. The only reason you can sleep without dying is the driver is keeping you safe. You have to respect that and make sure you repay them for doing so by being courteous when in their car. You have the most free time, so try to spark interesting conversations, and ask when people want to stop/eat etc.

Now, all of you, please provide money for gas, you should always be fair and split it evenly, to make sure it is both affordable and fair to everyone. Bringing pillows and snacks and drinks in the car is recommended depending on the length of the drive. Remember, words from our wise respected role model

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

Yes, that was Miley Cyrus.