Why the Middle Seat on a Road Trip Comes With Powers Nobody Talks About

It looks like the worst seat in the car. Insiders know better.

The middle seat gets no respect. No window, no legroom, a mysterious floor hump, and a seatbelt that seems designed by a puzzle maker. And yet, veterans of the spot know its secrets.

Power one: the view. The middle seat is the only position with a clean sightline through the windshield. Front-row scenery, plus full surveillance of both siblings and the driver's snack stash.

Power two: the climate. Perfectly positioned between the vents, the middle-seater lives in the temperate zone while the window seats broil and freeze by turns.

Power three: diplomacy. The middle-seater controls the armrest borders, brokers all snack trades, and hears every conversation in the car. The middle seat isn't a punishment. It's a throne.