Who ‘owns’ the front seat of a private vehicle    …wife or mother?      

Mr. Peter Tweneboah Mensah

The front seat of a private vehicle has been the cen­tre of controversy in many homes. This seat, which is beside the driver’s seat has over the years created tension between people.

One of such is between moth­er-in-laws and wives who feel they are entitled to sit in front whenever the two occupy the vehicle.

For the mothers (in-laws) because the driver, who is most often also the owner of the vehicle, is their son they feel they must at all cost occupy the front seat to feel dignified because they toiled to make him who he is.

The wives on the other hand are of the opinion that since their husbands own the vehicle, they are co-owners and have the right to decide where they wish to sit.

It is not clear what exactly is on the front passenger seat of a vehicle to warrant such strug­gles and even subsequently create tension at home.

In an interaction with a Fami­ly Life and Marriage Counsellor, Mr Peter Tweneboah Mensah on Monday at Ashaiman, he said there was no need for any de­bate on the subject about who should sit by the driver.

“That seat is for the wife. If it is her husband’s vehicle, it means it also belongs to her so she should decide where to sit,” he said.

According to Mr Mensah, if the wife decides not to sit on the front passenger seat it is her decision so no one should feel entitled and even “fight” her over it.

He said driving in the same car creates an opportunity for couples to spend time together to discuss issues.

“If someone else is occupying the front seat how will the cou­ple communicate effectively,?” he questioned.

“Does he have to keep turn­ing his head to talk to his wife? The Bible says the two shall be one, so it applies in many areas and this is no exception.

No one should try to separate a couple,” he said.

If husbands explain their wives’ position clearly to their mothers, it would reduce un­necessary tensions in families.

The Family Life and Marriage Counsellor said wives must extend the same courtesies to their husbands when they drive.

“I prefer sitting in front to watch the road and alert my husband of any impending dan­gers when he is driving because he is often absent-minded. It is just for safety sake and not dominance as some people think,” Mrs Angela Manu, a wife said in an interview with The Spectator.

A mother, Madam Faustina Adjei whose three sons own vehicles said sitting in front of her sons vehicles when they are drive makes her feel fulfilled as a mother which she wishes no one takes away from her.    

From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman