quote:

Originally posted by Lord Vaalic:
Many years ago my wife pissed me off so bad in the passenger seat that I pulled over and told her to drive. I don't think I have driven since. She is a horrible passenger, always freaking out, gasping, shrieking over cars that are a mile away, etc.

Exactly this. We trade off on journeys to family in Canada and I put up with the lectures and other noises. Oh, I used to club race and still like to keep my average speed up on a journey. Not speeding or fast, just quick.

quote:

Originally posted by comet24:
Depends on who's car we take. Short trips usually the person who's car it is. Long trips we will likely switch off. Around town or short trips, it's pretty even. Sometimes neither person cares, sometimes one person doesn't want to drive for whatever reason.

Describes us perfectly.

I can't ever remember riding in the passenger seat with my wife driving. She has asked a couple of times to help out when driving on longer trips but otherwise all me in 25 years.

One of our best friends always drives and the husband just goes along with it because it's not worth the fight. She's a horrible driver too.

Until she got her new car I always drove. She likes driving her new car and I hate driving, so it works out just lovely. Plus I drive all day for work so I'm sick of it by the weekend and driving makes me sleepy.

I don't feel emasculated, I feel relaxed. Also allows me to peruse SIGforum.

quote:

Originally posted by Rolan_Kraps:
Actually yes. My wife is a control freak. When I drive she is constantly "pressing the imaginary brake" or making surprised sounds. It is just easier to let her drive. And frankly I don't miss it much.

This. Most of the time.

To OP, what kind of control freak needs to always drive? I don't think it affects testosterone levels. It was called "shotgun" seat for a reason.

I can think of 1 instance in 32 years. She wanted to learn how to drive a manual trans. The clutch screamed, I screamed, she screamed. Hell we were in a 20 acre pasture and nearly wrecked, no exaggeration.

In her defense it was months later she was declared legally blind. I'd had my suspicions, but she never really knew any better.

Whomever wants to drive drives. It doesn't matter what's between our legs.

I drive 99% of the time.

quote:

I don't think it affects testosterone levels. It was called "shotgun" seat for a reason.

Exactly - you'd be surprised how much better SA you can have (if you want) by watching from the passenger seat.

My wife doesn't like to drive (but does drive daily to/from work). When we're together, I do all the driving.

I pretty much drive whenever I'm in a vehicle with other people too. Whether it's work or going somewhere with friends or relatives, I drive 99% of the time. I'd rather be in control, I guess.

I always drive. I truly enjoy driving, and I am blessed with some fast, quick handling sports cars, which makes it more fun. The only time my wife drives is when we're coming home from dinner/party, as she rarely drinks more than one.

I have also observed the situation cited by the OP, and I think in large part it can be explained by revoked licenses from DUI's, etc. Much more common now than in years past.

Stay safe, Steve

Damn right she does, in a drop-top Cadillac. Feeds me cookies at the same time, too.

My wife's a good driver but I'm behind the wheel 90% of the time regardless of what car were in. It just feels awkward and uncomfortable to be on the passenger side.

quote:

Originally posted by Rolan_Kraps:
... When I drive she is constantly "pressing the imaginary brake" or making surprised sounds. ...

Do you also get the "You're too close. YOU'RE TOO CLOSE!!"? I always threaten to make the wife drive but apparently she hates driving more than she is frightened by my diving.

Interesting anecdote:
to stay on topic, I did the driving when the ex & I were still married and we went somewhere together.

but...
I remember when we would leave from East Texas to see her parents in Los Alamos, NM.... She would usually stay awake until about Dekalb, TX (9 miles from the house) and wake up about the time we got through Santa Fe, NM (maybe 25 miles from her parents' house). Then she would ask "want me to drive a while?"

My dad gave me some sound advice when I started driving: "always take YOUR vehicle. That way you can leave if you need to." The one time I didn't in HS, it did not end well.

quote:

Originally posted by feersum dreadnaught:

quote:

Originally posted by Rolan_Kraps:
Actually yes. My wife is a control freak. When I drive she is constantly "pressing the imaginary brake" or making surprised sounds. It is just easier to let her drive. And frankly I don't miss it much.

This. Most of the time.

To OP, what kind of control freak needs to always drive? I don't think it affects testosterone levels. It was called "shotgun" seat for a reason.

The question answers itself. A CONTROL freak. You drive, you're actively controlling the vehicle. You ride shotgun you're an observer, who is not controlling the vehicle.

To a control freak, that difference between controlling and not-controlling the vehicle is a huge deal. And when they're *not* in active control of the vehicle, they tend to try to assert control in other ways. Makes them horrible undesirable, sometimes dangerous, passengers.

She's as good a driver as I am and I like the break. So yes.

quote:

Originally posted by the_sandman_454:
we're both above average drivers

98.64% of the drivers around here are way below average. Fact.

As for who drives, wife or me -- who cares? We get where we're going, either way.

If traffic is dense, stop and go, we take her car and she drives. Hers is a hybrid, so fuel economy really shines in stop and go situations.

If we're going on the highway, my car is roomier and more comfortable, so I'll likely drive.

I drive 99.5% of the time. She just doesn't enjoy it and her sense of direction sucks. If she drove we would get lost frequently.

Nope, just doesn't happen. My wife isn't a bad driver, but she scares the crap out of me. Not from her driving but from her attitude.

She can't take any kind of suggestion or advice from me about her driving, or even her choice of routes. I can suggest a different route due to traffic, or knowing that there is road construction going, and she'll go almost into a rage defending herself. Frankly, I'm afraid she'll wreck during one of her tirades she gets so pissed off.

So I just drive, no matter how tired I am or if I feel bad, or whatever.