Top Tips To Ensure Car Passengers Stay Safe

While passengers are not responsible for getting the vehicle safely from A to B, there are a number of things they can do to create a safer journey for everyone in the car. In our latest Go Learning article, we’re offering our top tips to ensure car passengers stay safe, including things you can do as a driver or passenger.

Wear a seatbelt at all times

It almost goes without saying, but one of the ways car passengers can stay safe is to wear a seatbelt at all times.

Younger passengers safety

While anyone over the age of 14 is responsible for their own seatbelt, with younger children the driver is responsible for making sure they are either wearing a suitable child restraint or seatbelt. Sometimes if you’re using a child car seat you may need to disable the airbag for safety reasons – you should check your car’s handbook to see if this is the case.

Don’t distract the driver

Drivers need to concentrate and distractions within the car can make this difficult. To help the driver you may want to turn down the radio or keep conversations quieter where roads are particularly busy or difficult to navigate. A few tips for being a good passenger include ensuring other passengers act responsibly, helping to navigate if required, keeping music or entertainment at a reasonable volume level and refraining from changing channels too often.

Never intervene with driving

If you’re sitting in the front seat, it’s really important to not intervene with driving by grabbing the steering wheel or switching on the indicator. Even if you see a danger ahead or your driver is a bit careless, you should let them know promptly and calmly if there is an issue rather than intervene as this could distract the driver and cause an accident.

While you’re OK to give helpful information as a passenger, it’s important that you don’t become a ‘back-seat driver’. Not only is this an unattractive habit, it could also cause your driver to feel stressed or angry which are emotions that don’t mix well with driving. Our advice is to avoid giving overly negative, critical or sarcastic comments on their driving performance.

Refrain from using interior lights at night

When it’s dark, it’s best not to use the interior lights while the car is moving as this could affect the driver’s vision.

Concerned about a driver’s behaviour?

Whether you’re concerned about a driver’s speed or you’re worried they are driving irresponsibly, you can voice your concern if it makes you feel unsafe. It’s important to never get into a car with someone who is over the drink-drive limit or under the influence of drugs. Remember, it’s much better to ask for a lift off someone else or to foot the bill of an expensive taxi ride than to risk your safety!

So in short, to ensure your safety as a car passenger you should always wear a seatbelt, refrain from distracting the driver and never accept a lift from someone who’s over the alcohol limit.

If you’re looking to become a driver yourself, GoGoGo are an intensive driving school Peterborough with an above average pass rate. Check out our website or contact us for more information today.