The rules of etiquette regarding sitting in a car on social occasions are different from sitting in a business situation. Social rules for car travel are especially important when a man opens the door for a woman and when couples are sitting in a car. Smart people who want to climb the ladder of success know the rules and carefully adhere to them.

In social situations, good manners require a well-behaved man to help a lady into the car from the curb side before walking around the car to get in. Ladies, you all know that you can open your own doors, but some of you miss the point. Before 5:00 pm, you can be a lioness in the office. However, after 5:00 pm, you might do well to relax, become a kitten, and stop robbing your man of his manhood. Men, don’t be clueless! Being attentive is a subtlety that is not lost on a woman with class. Even a simple gesture like opening the car door for her sends a message that you think she’s worth being treated like a princess and that you’re proud to be seen with her. If necessary, she fakes it until she becomes a part of you.

The way couples sit when traveling together is an indication of their social class. When two working-class men and two women travel together, the two men sit in the front seats of the car and the women in the back seats. In the middle class, one couple sits in the front and the other couple sits in the back. Upper class people choose a different arrangement. The woman of one couple sits up front with the male driver of the other couple, while her companion sits with the driver’s female partner in the back seat. The man in the backseat gives in to the woman by giving her the seat of honor, the rear passenger side. The assumption of this seating arrangement is that a couple spends a lot of time talking to each other. A mixed seating arrangement encourages cross talk, thus fulfilling the purpose of being with others: exchanging conversations, news, and brilliant ideas with everyone.

Does all this sound a bit pretentious? Maybe, but if you’re interested in joining the social club, you need to adjust your manner and mindset to the rules of acceptable behavior when it comes to manners in cars, as well as all areas of etiquette.