Stephanie's Compare/Contrast Essay on Seating in Cars: Advanced Composition

Take Your Seat

            “I call shotgun!” This phrase is widely understood because of what it means. If someone says this when the car being used is in view, they call dibs on the passenger seat in the front of the car. When I was driving home from school with my little brother, I figured it out. I realized that when you sit in the driver’s seat, your perspective on your surroundings is quite different from that of a passenger. What I experience as the car’s driver varies from what the person in the passenger or rather “shotgun” seat experiences. While sitting in the driver’s seat may sound more appealing, the “shotgun” seat truly is the best seat.  

Drivers and passengers differentiate in their focus and concentration. As someone sitting in the driver’s seat, it is essential that their focus is on the road ahead. Their primary focus is what is happening in every direction of the car. Passengers have more freedom since they do not have to be as focused. Conversely, it is crucial that drivers are in fact focused and defensive; they need to be ready to step on the brake pedal if something goes awry. Individuals sitting in the “shotgun” seat can do more. They can change the music on the radio for as long or as little as they want. Passengers can distribute the snacks during long road trips. Drivers must keep their eyes on the road. Keeping an eye out for other incoming cars or looking for the right time to merge are two key components of being a safe driver. The eyes of a passenger, on the other hand, are free to wander. They can be looking out the window, taking a nap, or even not paying attention. It is less important for the passengers to stay focused on their surroundings because it is not their responsibility to drive the car. Drivers cruise rather than watch. They concentrate rather than rest. Drivers take full responsibility for whatever happens because they are operating the vehicle. Therefore, a “shotgun” passenger is better because they are just along for the ride. They have the luxury of being near the driver, but they are not the ones operating the automobile. Passengers riding “shotgun” also benefit because they get to see a larger view than someone in the backseat of the car.  Passengers watch rather than cruise. They rest rather than concentrate. Drivers are the pilots while passengers can sit back and relax. The individuals who sit in the “shotgun” seat have access to all the controls in the car, unlike passengers in the back seat.  The person in the driver’s seat makes things happen while the person in the passenger’s seat watches things happen.

            So, when you are riding in a car with a group of people, you should make sure that you are the one that calls “shotgun.” You want to reap all the benefits without having to complete the task that requires concentration and responsibility.

-Stephanie Sandra