Tips and Tricks to Being a Helpful and Empowered Passenger

As many of you are learning how to drive for the first time, your friends are likely learning at the same time. While this means fun trips to the mall without mom, dad, or another loving adult tagging along, it also comes with a lot of responsibility as you begin driving one another around.

That responsibility can feel scary—especially when you are in the passenger seat and cannot control the vehicle. This blog is meant to help curb those anxieties and provide you with tangible ways to stay safe and empower your driver to make good decisions.

Help Guide Your Driver

The first thing you can do as a helpful passenger is guide your driver by reminding them of road safety rules.

This could look like:

• “Hey, remember when you and another car arrive at a stop sign at the same time, the person with no one to their right gets to go first.”

• “I know we are stuck behind a slow vehicle, but don’t pass them as we go around this curve.”

• “You can go right on red here, but never go left on red.”

• “Make sure you use your bright lights on this road at night.”

Be a Second Set of Eyes

Another way you can help is by assisting your driver in scanning the road. Having a second set of eyes—especially at night—can help your driver stay aware of their surroundings.

This could look like:

• “Watch out for that deer!”

• “There’s a crosswalk coming up, so be careful.”

• “Did you notice that four-way stop ahead?”

Help with Navigation and Distractions

You can also support your driver by helping with tasks that might otherwise distract them.

For example, you can:

• Help check blind spots when merging

• Give directions and let them know when to turn

• Choose music, skip songs, or adjust the volume

All of these small actions help keep the driver’s focus on the road instead of their phone.

Watch for Fatigue

My last tip is to pay attention to when your driver may be getting tired. If possible, offer to switch places and drive for part of the journey.

This helps prevent drowsy driving, which, according to NHTSA, resulted in 633 deaths in 2023.

Another way to combat drowsy driving is simply to talk with your driver. Keep a light, easy-flowing conversation going to help them stay alert. Some good topics include what you’ll have for dinner, upcoming events, or even a new album from your favorite artist.

Final Thoughts

I hope this blog was helpful in thinking of ways you can stay safe and make good decisions in a vehicle—even when you are not behind the wheel.

Comment below with other helpful tips you use as a passenger to guide your driver and promote safe choices.

If you want, I can also make this more “teen voice,” shorten it for social media, or align it with a specific SADD campaign tone.