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The jaunting car's high centre of gravity and narrow track width made it top heavy and the driver had to make sure that the passenger load was properly distributed to prevent capsizing. In the case of one passenger or three passengers the driver occupied one of the side seats for balance. For more about the art of riding in a jaunting car, see Vance Thompson's Cab Drivers: How Pat Travels.
Source:
Man with driver riding a horse-drawn jaunting car. Photograph circa 1890-1910(?) by John J. Clarke (1879-1961).
Reproduction rights owned by National Library of Ireland (call no. CLAR81T).
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Bloomsday for Cab Drivers / 15
The Jaunting Car / 2
The "jaunting car" was Dublin's predominant cab vehicle. It seems to have originated in the early 1800's as the "noddy", essentially a low-slung farm cart with seats.
By the end of the century it had evolved into a charming but somewhat dangerous conveyance with two back-to-back bench seats facing out to each side.
Despite its small size the car could accommodate up to four passengers who sat with their legs hanging over the sides. Its ability to carry this number of people on two wheels was the chief advantage of the design.
Footboards helped keep the passengers in place, and sometimes a hinged bar running across their laps served as a crude seatbelt.
Nevertheless, riders were in constant danger of being thrown overboard during sharp turns. Perhaps for this reason the car never really caught on outside Ireland.
Also, the fact that it was an open carriage would not have recommended it for use in colder or wetter climates.