Passage Summary: On quick drives, having friends in the car leads to more crashes because they're distracting. But on long drives, driving by yourself is actually more dangerous.

Reasoning: On short trips, passengers are a liability because they distract drivers, but on long trips, driving alone is statistically more dangerous than having company.

Analysis: The paradox here is the reversal of the passenger's effect based on the duration of the trip. While passengers are a nuisance during short bursts of driving, they must provide a safety benefit that outweighs their distraction during long hauls. Perhaps a passenger's chatter is annoying, but it's better than the driver falling asleep at the wheel. Look for an answer that explains how a passenger mitigates a specific risk associated with long-distance driving, such as fatigue or boredom.