Scared – what do you do?

[GUTLES]

Yeah ya really gotta say something sometimes, I've been in some quick cars with some really good drivers (Steven Richards, Jason Bargwanna & a few mates who know there limits)... & I've also been in some quick cars with not so good drivers.

At our work break up last year myself, two other work mates & my boss organised to get picked up from work & head up to the pub with one of our apprentices who decided he was driving.

We all got in this mid-late 90's Lancer Evo, not sure exactly what model, not my cup of tea, we're heading up this real bumpy road doing 130 in an 80km zone & it felt like we we're drifting all over the joint with my boss egging him on, I spoke up & told him to back off a bit, as soon as I did my other two workmates agreed'd with me with my boss still being a tool.. He offered us a lift home & I told him I'd never get in a car if he was driving ever again..

[buggerlugs]

I have always been a bad and nervous passenger. Even hated being dunk on the back of a pushy when I was younger. Got T-boned by a Valiant years ago. Was sitting behind the driver in a Torana. He was ginning around with the radio cassete and drove straight thru a give way sign. Valiant smashed into front drivers guard. Another second and the driver and yours truly would be pushing up daisy's.........

[rodderz]

For obvious reasons on the road is different (ie bloody dangerous), but when we were younger (probably 7-8 or so) we had a paddock bomb, an old 71' Corolla. When you were driving in the paddock, you felt in control, but in the passenger seat with one of my brothers going just as quick, was pretty nerve racking. It's because most of the time you don't know what they are going to do and you aren't in control.

I envy those rally co-drivers, that would take some guts.

[buggerlugs]

Yes,I have often thought that the co-drivers are crazy.....

[XR6_661]

Originally Posted by fpv84d

My brother is a shocker I won't go anywhere with him driving it is just dumb luck he has not had a major yet. When I bought the FPV (He loves his fords) I did something very unusual and offered him a drive never again the car is quick but he undertook a 5 series beemer on a freeway entry ramp WTF something I could not ever consider doing we were flying, That was in a new $60k car that was not his. Some people are dangerous and should not be on the road at all. I am lucky I tend to drive myself rather than passenger it.

Reminds me of the time I gave my mate a drive of my XR6 when I first got it (The same mate I wrote about in an earlier post saying how I won't get in a car with him). Just bought my XR6, had pretty much just turned 19 at the time, as you can imagine, I felt like I had purchased a lambo being 19, I was immensly proud.

Gave my mate a drive, and I was literelly yelling at him to slow down, he didn't listen, and this was in suburb backstreets, 50kph limit. He was putting the car in first and taking it to 90, etc etc.
When we stopped, I got out of the car, snatched the keys, shook my head and drove off.

As I said in an earlier post, it all comes down to the individual.

[buggerlugs]

some mate..................

[rag top]

wiggle your little finger at them....

[greenfoam]

This is why I dont like to do tunes for people that come to my house, at least I learned some time ago to say no I'll be right, you do the test drive yourself. One too many trips North of 180 in a VN doesn't do your heart any good

[Homes]

i've had many long walks after exiting car of speeding mate...i have no problem telling a crazy driver to calm down.

My father is one i get nervous riding shotgun with...and i can't chastize him about his driving...just don't feel right : he's fine on open road, back road, wet road, dirt road, at speed - but he scares me in traffic.
every 3 or 4 stops in city traffic he's hard on the brakes because he didn't notice the car in front stopping...you know how when you as a front passenger push your own feet into the floor like you had a brake pedal - that is constant for me

[TUF_302]

If i dont feel safe i let the person driving no, either by saying what the hell are you doing, or in extreme case, WTF are you playing at!!

[Daymoe]

I'll do myself a favor and not get into the car with certain mates, because I know once I'm in, nothing is going to stop them besides that tree. One of them made 60 minutes for his dangerous driving.

[Smoke Pursuit]

I got a client whos got some high end cars.. BMW M3, F6X / Tornado.. I get nervous when i get in with him... very nervous...

Me personally, i just putt around with other people in the car, i have no need to prove a point to them and make them feel unsafe.

[daniel_rossy]

Well i think it really depends it comes down to how well you know them.

Say if your girlfriend is really nice and listens to everything and takes everything you say in to consideration (hyperthetically, lol), without her yelling straight back at you and ignoring you for the rest of the trip, maybe say 'hey your a pretty good driver, but i don't think the way your driving at the moment really suits the conditions, its easy to misinterpret conditions, but maybe tailgating the car less infront of you at high speeds in the wet really isnt the best idea, because i don't want you to hurt yourself and end up in that big tree on that next corner'.

Or to your mate

'You know you'd impress me more if you slowed down, because the feeling of being alive is a better feeling than feeling that powerpole ahead of us next to my mouth, *awkwardly laughing*'.

[red_hotxr6]

Tell him/her you need some chewing gum could they pull over. Then with you out of the car carefully explain the situation and ask them to drive properly, or you are catching a bus/taxi or walking... :

[Homes]

Originally Posted by red_hotxr6

Tell him/her you need some chewing gum could they pull over. Then with you out of the car carefully explain the situation and ask them to drive properly, or you are catching a bus/taxi or walking... :

yeah...that's my way - that way you're already stopped if they have a problem with you

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by rodderz

For obvious reasons on the road is different (ie bloody dangerous), but when we were younger (probably 7-8 or so) we had a paddock bomb, an old 71' Corolla. When you were driving in the paddock, you felt in control, but in the passenger seat with one of my brothers going just as quick, was pretty nerve racking. It's because most of the time you don't know what they are going to do and you aren't in control.

I envy those rally co-drivers, that would take some guts.

But the difference there is that the person in control of the car can actually drive.

[GreenMachine]

I've got no hesitation telling people to stop driving like a twit. I'm an extremely nervous passenger though. One mate in particular (he's a forums member, God bless him) scares me witless - particularly bearing down on stopped traffic at 70kph (generally while talking/looking at me) then slamming on the anchors. Obviously he knows the car's stopping distance, but I friggen don't. Get me every time.

You know who you are.

[MITCHAY]

If someone is driving like an idiot when I'm a passenger I will tell them so however that is not very often. You're a bigger wuss for not telling them than you're if you do IMO.

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by GreenMachine

I've got no hesitation telling people to stop driving like a twit. I'm an extremely nervous passenger though. One mate in particular (he's a forums member, God bless him) scares me witless - particularly bearing down on stopped traffic at 70kph (generally while talking/looking at me) then slamming on the anchors. Obviously he knows the car's stopping distance, but I friggen don't. Get me every time.

You know who you are.

You sure picked the wrong car to be in on a certain wedding day though.

[GreenMachine]

Originally Posted by Peuty

You sure picked the wrong car to be in on a certain wedding day though.

Peuty's Limousines: We'll get you to the chapel on time. Backwards. Through a hedge.

[GREGXR8]

mrs has got to be the worst driver i know. scares me everytime i get in the car with her. she seems to pay attention to everything but what she's doing. i just tell her now i'm driving cos you cant. was in the back seat of a laser years ago with a mates so called mate driving. was driving like an idiot down stud rd, when he passed a car in the gravel i told him if he crashed with me in it he better hope the crash killed him because i would. its morons like him that kill innocent people and walk away!

[motorcycles4eva]

Originally Posted by jphanna

We all feel in best when we are behind the wheel driving, but what are you like when you are a passenger, and the driver is making you uncomfortable, you feel in danger. They may be tailgating at high speed, not watching the road, changing lanes dangerously, etc. this person may be your best mate, workmate, wife, g/friend, relative etc. Do you keep your mouth shut and hold on tight, or do you say something?

yea like others said.. demand them to pull their head in and slow down.. otherwise just get out of the car.. i have done it before.. i'd rather walk than get the kaka scared outa me from a moron...

[FRDGAL]

Originally Posted by jphanna

We all feel in best when we are behind the wheel driving, but what are you like when you are a passenger, and the driver is making you uncomfortable, you feel in danger. They may be tailgating at high speed, not watching the road, changing lanes dangerously, etc. this person may be your best mate, workmate, wife, g/friend, relative etc. Do you keep your mouth shut and hold on tight, or do you say something?

I am so glad you've bought this topic up because I'm tired of being dismissed when I tell someone I'm uncomfortable with the way they're driving. If I don't feel safe, I say it. But rather than be taken seriously or be shown a bit of consideration to what I'm feeling as a passenger, I get yelled at or accused of nagging and so on. No consideration what so ever!

I'm also a bit nervous if I'm on an unfamiliar road or if it's raining. The driver may know the road like the back of their hand but if I don't know it then it makes it worse for me. Drivers need to take passengers concerns seriously. I'd rather be a nagger than be lying in a morgue becaue I didn't speak up.