My stepdad was a touchy guy to any woman or girl who crossed his path, including my Amish relatives. My own daughters knew to stay at a distance from him. I hated it when he visited family with my mom because it was mine and husband's job to keep him away from the ladies. He would get so mad at me. Total jerk.
A touchy driver would never last. There are rules. Even my closest male relatives shake my hand when they see me. No touching. It would be disrespectful to me and to my husband. My husband can shake a lady relatives hand. My closest cousin, we consider each other sisters, will hug my husband. She adores him. He just stands there and smiles. That's an exception.
Being a good driver is serious business, and it is a business. They must be insured. Typically they carry an extra car seat if they're taking mothers and children shopping. Most Amish moms don't have carseats, don't usually have a need for them. A good radio set to Christian music is a plus. Stopping at McDonald's drivethrough is another. Usually an Amish man will sit up front with the driver. Good drivers are "tipped" with homemade goodies, a nice family to stay with when driving long distances and breakfast to boot. Word gets around quick who not to call. Our next door farm neighbor knows to call us when we're there if they have an emergency. They have a new baby who got whopping cough a few months back when that was going around. Our farm is also used for visiting relative overflow when we're not there. We drive relatives around plenty, but refuse to be called "drivers" or take money. Husband and my "sister's" son in law always have an afternoon together where they take off into the big town, usually with grandson and a couple of young boys in tow and they go to Tractor Supply, to lunch, and to Loews. Us ladies use the afternoon to do local shopping, but will go by buggie.
