joeleeper 10 Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 Hello all. I have a question. At summer camp this past week, I was attending a Trek Safely class and was informed that when traveling by automobile the front passanger seat is only to be occupied by a child of driver or anouther adult. The seat cannot be occupied by any other boy in the Troop. I asked the instructor if he had a copy of this policy or a publication number. He said it is in the "new" Driving Pamphlet. I was just wondering if anyone else had heard of this policy? This is not really a problem, but we do have a few leaders without boy's in the Troop and we have access to a Church van, and this situation may come up. One good question raised in the class I was in was what about a standard cab pickup truck with bench seating for three? This may just be a Council Policy, but figured I would throw it out there. Thank you, ASM Joe Leeper Troop 555 NEGA Council Link to post Share on other sites
EagleInKY 14 Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 I haven't heard of this rule. I could see it causing some issues. I guess it may eliminate the shouting of "Shotgun!" as we get ready to load up. (Or does that only happen in the south?) Link to post Share on other sites
SemperParatus 1 Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 I haven't heard that rule from national or council, but I can say that we have had that policy in our troop since our inception. Link to post Share on other sites
msnowman 10 Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 As I am still involved with the Pack my Scout carrying has been mostly limited to Cub Scouts which I do not allow in the front seat of my car because of the air bag danger for smaller children. My own Scout wasn't allowed to sit in the front seat with me until he broke the 110lb mark (about 2 years ago). I've never heard it as a rule, just a personal family rule that was used as a guideline even for non-scouting events (yes, there are such things, even in scouting families). Any idea of the reasoning for the alleged rule? Youth protection? Air bags? Something else? Oh, and for the record - "Shotgun" is used in Maine too. Michelle - CM - P102 Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle74 10 Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 Was unaware of the driving pamphlet. . . G2SS makes no mention of this rule. Our troop has a guideline that in most situations if another adult is not in the passenger seat then one of the "senior" (older) scouts is in the passenger seat with the task assignment of keeping the rest of the Scouts in the vehicle under control and as needed to act as a navigator, so that the driver can concentrate on driving. The driver's son may ride in the passenger seat when permitted by law (air bag regs), in which case there is usually an older scout in the car also, to maintain order. Link to post Share on other sites
nldscout 18 Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 I think this is another case of someone making up their own rules. "I asked the instructor if he had a copy of this policy or a publication number. He said it is in the "new" Driving Pamphlet." So new that no one else has seen it including the instructor? Can you say URBAN LEGAND" Link to post Share on other sites
joeleeper 10 Posted July 17, 2005 Author Share Posted July 17, 2005 This is pretty much the response I was expecting. The reason as explaned to us in the class is for Youth Protection, (although the air bag issue is a good reason also.) As I said it may be a local guideline. I feel it has some merit, but was just looking to see if it went into depth at all. Thank you all, ASM Joe Leeper Troop 555 NEGA Council Link to post Share on other sites
scoutldr 732 Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 Why don't we just make a rule that no adult leader may come within 10 feet of a youth. IF this is indeed a new national "policy", then we will just say that parents must make their own arrangements to get their son to the activity site. Link to post Share on other sites
evmori 11 Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 Lived in the Northeast all my life & been using the term "shotgun" for most of it! Stupid rule! What if you only have a two seater? Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10 Link to post Share on other sites
madkins007 10 Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 Ed- Then the other seat passenger BETTER be your own kid or another adult, or you are in violation of the Youth Protection Guidelines. This smacks of a local rule or 'invented guideline. Personally, it has always been my policy (in and out of Scouting) to offer the shotgun seat to a guest out of courtesy. (I don't need to worry about the airbag situation in my older vehicles!) I really cannot see that this is a violation as long as there are other people in the car. Maybe some kinds of cars offer better opportunities for clandestine acts than most I am familiar with? Link to post Share on other sites
DonM 10 Posted July 18, 2005 Share Posted July 18, 2005 I haven't heard of this rule before. It would be a problem for me. In the back of my van, the scouts can watch a movie (with headsets) for long drives. Then I can have a scout in front for a long SM conference or just to discuss stuff with them. This has become my best way of connecting with scouts - especially the older ones, and helping to train them or guide the program. DonM Link to post Share on other sites
GopherJudy 10 Posted July 18, 2005 Share Posted July 18, 2005 I've never heard of this rule but I do not allow my son or any of his friends ride in the front passenger seat but it's for other reasons! I believe in NY State the law requires or recommends I'm not sure which one, that all children 12 & under have to ride in the back. I also have a front passenger airbag so that's another reason the kids ride in the back, it's too dangerous for them to sit in the front in case the airbag goes off. Actually I would like to have the airbag disengaged in the steering wheel as I'm short & sit rather close to the steering wheel! Regarding the 3 seat pick up, I would assume that you'd have your child in the middle! As in the case of the van, depending on the laws of your state (the age that that a child can sit in the front) & if there's a passenger airbag I would have an older child sit in the front passenger seat since most of the time they are taller & don't have to sit so close to the dashboard! Here on Long Island we yelled "shotgun" too! Me, I always needed to sit near a window! I always need the window open while I'm in a car, even if the A/C in on! I need to hear the window open so I don't feel enclosed! Judy Link to post Share on other sites
red feather 10 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Haven't heard of this one either. When I pull the troop trailer I do not have another scout in the truck with me. Another adult if the seat is needed but no scouts. yis Link to post Share on other sites
FScouter 24 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Please splain what is "shotgun"? Is that like the final scene in "Easy Rider"? Link to post Share on other sites
evmori 11 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Think Western. Think stagecoach. Think of the guy sitting to the right of the stagecoach driver. Link to post Share on other sites
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