Are You Independent or Do You Need Backup?
Do you feel calmer when you're driving alone or when someone's beside you? If solo drives feel therapeutic and conversations only distract you, that might mean you're better off being by yourself in the car. But if you're the type who needs constant advice and emotional support, you probably need a passenger to survive your drives. Either way, your habits can reveal a lot about you and your personality. Here are 10 signs you love driving solo—and 10 signs you need someone to make your rides tolerable.
1. You Find Solo Drives Healing
If you're the type to just hop in the car and go on aimless drives by yourself, you're probably someone who enjoys being in the car alone, without having anyone to accompany you. These solo rides are often therapeutic, and you may go on more than one of these kinds of drives a week.
2. You Like Talking to Yourself
It might be embarrassing to admit, but you love talking to yourself. Maybe you like acting up scenarios in your head, or maybe you like journaling out loud. Whatever it is, it's better that you don't have a passenger, or else they might think you're odd.
3. You Treat Your Drives Like Karaoke Sessions
Solo drives aren't just therapeutic to you—you also like treating them like personal karaoke sessions. They allow you to play whatever music your heart desires and sing as loudly as you can, without anyone judging your habits.
4. You Can't Stand Having Conversations While Driving
Do you find it distracting to have conversations in the car while you're driving? Do you find it annoying when your passengers chat in the background? If so, it's probably another sign that you like driving alone more, so that there's no one to deter you from the road.
5. You Enjoy Complete Silence
Sure, you like your jam sessions when you're alone in the car, but you also enjoy complete silence. When passengers are in your car, you might often feel the need to put on music even if you don't want to. When you're driving solo, though, you can go cruising while leaving your radio off the entire time.
6. Backseat Drivers Are the Bane of Your Existence
Not only do you find it annoying when people are constantly talking in your car, but you also hate it when your passengers give you unsolicited driving advice. You know how to drive; you don't need others telling you how to. That's just adding unnecessary noise to the background.
7. You Like Taking Detours
Sure, taking detours might waste gas and time, but going off the beaten path allows you to discover things you might not have seen otherwise. Plus, sometimes things just catch your eye—a new restaurant, a scenic road—and trigger the adventurous side in you, so how can you just let it be?
8. You Love Freedom
Above all, you love the freedom you get when you drive alone. No one telling you what to do; no one barking out directions. You have complete free rein over your car, and you can choose to go anywhere you'd like, for as long as you'd like.
9. You Don't Like Being Watched While Driving
Maybe it's the memory of taking your first road exam or all those lessons your parents used to give you as a newbie on the road, but you don't like being watched while driving. You prefer doing things your own way, without having anyone call you out on it.
10. You're Confident Navigating on Your Own
Sure, having a GPS is handy, and it's nice to have a passenger who can remind you when to turn or switch lanes. But you're confident enough navigating on your own that you don't need an extra set of eyes. Honestly, the latter would only distract and confuse you more.
Does any of the above resonate with you? If not, you might be the opposite, meaning you absolutely need a passenger before you hop behind the wheel. Here are 10 signs that may indicate just that:
1. You're Forgetful
You believe you're a great driver, but sometimes (just sometimes), you tend to forget things that a passenger can help catch. Maybe it's shoulder checking or flipping on your signal. Maybe it's knowing which street to turn on, even though you've driven the same route hundreds of times before.
2. You're Terrible with Directions
Building off the last point, you might also need a passenger to survive if you're terrible with directions. Even with a GPS, you can't decipher the instructions it throws at you when you're preoccupied with driving, so having someone beside you telling you when and where to turn makes everything much easier.
3. Driving Alone Makes You Sleepy
Highway hypnosis is a real thing, only you don't just get it on long, mundane drives. You feel sleepy whenever you need to drive alone, because there's no one there to keep you engaged. Driving can feel extremely monotonous when you're alone and relying on muscle memory, so it's better when you have a passenger.
4. You Enjoy Conversations
You don't just enjoy having company—you enjoy having conversations. Having someone to talk to doesn't just make you feel less alone, but also helps you feel more alert, awake, and focused. What can you say? You think you're great at multitasking.
5. Having an Extra Set of Eyes Makes You Feel Safer
There's another perk of having someone else in the car with you: they can help you scan the road for obstacles and potential danger. Sure, as the driver, that responsibility should rest solely on you, but it does feel less nerve-wracking to be behind the wheel when there's an extra pair of eyes.
6. You Need Constant Advice
If you're not entirely comfortable with driving yet, or you're just not as confident in your skills, having someone beside you also means they can give you constant advice. This comes in especially handy when you need to perform a difficult maneuver or park in a busy parking lot.
7. Passengers Make Your Drives More Upbeat & Tolerable
If you find driving boring, that might also be a sign that you need a passenger to survive. Driving can feel especially tedious when you're traveling down the same route every day or going on long road trips. Having other people in the car, on the other hand, makes the ride feel more upbeat and fun, instead of like a chore.
8. You Like Exploring with Someone By Your Side
People who like driving solo might like taking detours and exploring unknown roads on their own, but you're the opposite: you prefer having company when discovering new things. After all, it gives you an opportunity to do something fun with someone by your side.
9. Being Alone in the Car Makes You Feel More Watched
You feel antsy when you're behind the wheel by yourself because it feels like all the other drivers on the road are watching your every move. When you have a passenger, though, it helps take the pressure off and distracts you from those extra eyes that may or may not be silently judging you.
10. You Need Emotional Support
Admit it: you need a passenger to survive simply because you need emotional support. Who else is going to hold your hand while you make your 20th try getting into a parking spot? Who else is going to make you feel better after getting honked at by someone else? Yup—the more passengers, the better.
