"Riding shotgun" I'm pretty sure the would be against the law on most streets. I just don't see how riding beside the stagecoach driver shooting bandits became the claimed seat.
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"Riding shotgun" refers to sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, a phrase originating from the American Wild West, where an armed guard sat next to a stagecoach driver to protect against bandits. The term became popular in the 20th century to describe the passenger seat, often called out to secure that position.
@brewster12345 In addition to being next to the driver, the guard was most vulnerable as he would be the first target of the bandits. And in those pre-seat belt, pre-crash bag days, the auto passenger next to the driver also was the most vulnerable. Although those calling out for it never contemplated that.