Would your opinion be the same if it were two guys in the car instead of a man and a woman?
My initial reaction would not be, no. If it was a male child and an older male, I would extend the same sympathy to the younger male as to the woman. If the woman looked supportive of the male driver, I would not extend the same doubts I do to the woman in this case. But for a woman who looks afraid and not in charge, yes - I extend a greater degree of initial doubt than to if it had been a man.
Men bond, women bond. I'm inclined to consider with two men in the front seats that they are likely operating as a unit far more so than different sexes. A man and a woman in the front seats, I'm inclined to consider one being the dominant and the other being the follower. Because when you come right down to it, that's how most couples operate in a crisis. And clearly in this situation the man is in control.
So yes, it makes a difference to me my initial reactions.

