Beifahrende

Beifahrende is a German term used to refer to the persons who ride in a vehicle as passengers, excluding the driver. It is a plural, gender-neutral noun formed from a nominalized participle of Beifahren. The word is common in formal registers and in contexts that favor inclusive language, while in everyday speech people more often use Mitfahrende or Mitfahrer to denote passengers.

In usage, Beifahrende can denote all occupants of a vehicle besides the driver, including those in the back seats and the front passenger seat. The term appears in police reports, traffic statistics, regulatory texts, and safety guidelines. It is typical in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland; regional preference may vary, and Mitfahrer is widely used in colloquial speech.

Safety and legal context: as with other vehicle occupants, Beifahrende are typically subject to standard safety rules, such as wearing seat belts where required and using appropriate child restraints. In accident reconstruction and automotive design, the term Beifahrende may be used to indicate occupants other than the driver when describing injuries, airbags deployment, or seating positions.

See also: Beifahrer; Mitfahrer; Mitfahrende; Beifahrersitz; Occupant safety.