
I found this very interesting article from the Internet. When you picking up a friend, only to have that friend ruin the trip by suggesting terrible shortcuts, changing the radio station, criticising your driving style, and smoking/drinking/eating in your car and etc.
Hitching a ride is defined as riding with a driver when he/she had no intentions of any riders. This can occur when one needs a ride home, as the driver is “on their way”, or if someone needs to be picked up from a friends house.
These RULES will be enforced:
1)Unless the driver specifically asks for directions, the rider(s) will not say “turn here” at any moment, suggest any short-cuts. It is understood that by virtue of the driver’s graciousness to do you a favor, he/she knows what he is doing.
2)The driver has control of the radio. Permission must be asked to touch it, insert a CD. Suggestions are welcome, but no touchy.
3)If the driver is not a smoker, the riders are not smokers. Should the riders have a sudden “nic-fit” they’ll have to deal with it unless the driver permits them to.
4)Do not eat in the driver’s car unless he/she gives permission.
5)Riders, under the clause of ‘hitching’ must provide a minimum of $5 for gas if average citywide gas prices have an average of $1.90 (-)/gal. $7 if the average is $2.00(+)/gal.
6)If a rider wants to go to a fast-food restaurant, he must offer to purchase something for the driver, as the driver probably had no intentions of going there in the first place.
7)Should the driver have less than stellar driving habits (like your grandmother, or like Jeff Gordon), at no point will the riders complain about it. They asked for a favor, they best be glad they’re getting it.
8)If the driver is driving someone else’s car as the ‘designated driver’, all of the above rules still apply. They have control of the car, where it goes, how it gets there, and how fast.
9)If the trip will last more than an hour, the person that calls “shotgun” must be able to read a map, navigate, play dj and keep a steady supply of beverages, snacks and conversation for the driver. The driver may not need this but the co-pilot has to be prepared for anything. That means no sleeping.
10)Don’t ever throw anything out of the drivers car. Ever.
11)Wear your seatbelt. The driver is not trying to get fined because of you.
12)If the temperature in the car is not pleasing to you, and it can’t be fixed by moving the vents directly in front of you or rolling a window, deal with it. Put on a sweater or something.
I think these things really needed to be said, as we are tired of patiently taking people places and having them whine, complain, and act like an aggravated child about how we choose to drive our car…



