You must say the word "Shotgun" to stake your claim on Shotgun. This must be done clearly and loud enough so that at least one other to-be occupant of the vehicle can hear you. No variations of this word are acceptable. After you have rightfully called Shotgun, you have exclusive rights to Shotgun for that ride. However, if no one hears you call Shotgun it is still fair game for everyone.
But that's just the beginning! There are many more rules to learn, such as the importance of having your shoes on when you yell "Shotgun!" and the crucial "hand on the door" rule. Link -via Bits and Pieces
"He who has the shotgun rules!"
We put a stack of 10p coins on the dashboard. Every time the kids are annoying on a long journey we take one away. Whatever's left at the end they split between them. It rarely amounts to more than a pound, but when they see "their" money vanishing they suddenly stop poking each other.
Air bag will break their little spines.
I told my neices no one under 16 in the front seat.
The UK has rules about kids in front seats...
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/index.htm
During my first shotgun, at about 12 yrs, my Dad was pulling a trailer, and I had to navigate Hwy 101 through San Francisco. Yikes!!!! I think we made it through without intervention from my mother (the official family navigator.)
FYI Hwy 101 through San Francisco is a maze of one-way streets.
If they fight while driving they both get evicted to the back seat and i sit up there alone. Cures the fight very quickly.
Sucks on a long trip but hey, live and learn...