This is a genuine question that was put in a job interview and the only person that got the right answer got the job.

you give the car key to your best friend to drive the old lady to her home, while you stay with your dream partner.

Exemplary question! Brilliant!

(Please indulge my lengthy answer)

My first automatic action will be slowing down the car, near them.

After exchanging greets with my friend, I will offer him a ride, adding to it “or do you think WE should help others out first & go and catch up later”? This will initiate a consultation-session, short & harmless.

Why so? Because it will provide me with INFORMATION to make a better decision or at least, make a weighted decision.  

1. I can offer anyone of them a lift. But who actually needs MY lift?! (no one yet)
2. Isn’t possible that each one (or someone) already called a dear one to pick them up at the bus stop during such angry stormy night?
3. Who said the bus isn't coming & they prefer to take it (be it late)?
4. My first action will be ASKING them whether they need a lift from me and/or whether they’re getting picked up soon by someone. (asking first or just doing is very culturally determined)
5. This will still be a well-meant offer wrapped-up in a reasonable & sober manner, since they all can see the size of my car and see that I actually stopped.
6. They will engage in a spontaneous social interaction, either consulting each other, favouring one another or explaining one’s urgent need to be first. Or giving me the right (order) of choosing based on their attitude.
7. My offer has open validity & genuine attached to it. I'm also flexible; I can go and come back. They can help me decide who’s first, who’s next, who’s third OR who’s thankful but needs no lift!
8. They can also help me decide intuitively: who’s a friend worthy of a reunion, who’s an old truly needy person & who’s a truly potential dream partner based on attitude & not only looks or dreamy fantasies, based on their own calculation of what I'm supposed to do according to them!

Don’t judge a book by its cover, for the inside pages may be blank & waste your time, money & good intentions.

I believe (but I may be wrong) this question aims to examine abilities & competences such as:

1. Research valuation & research skills
2. Identifying needs vs improvisation & imposition.
3. Soberness & rationality in judgment vs emotionality & bad or pretentious impulsiveness.
4. Pro-activity & backing good intentions by deeds & words.
5. Being direct & frank vs being complimentary & vague.
6. Conveying honesty, fragility & transparency.
7. Altruistic traits vs egoistic traits.
8. Communication skills.
9. Group management skills, discussion & leadership by consultation.
10. Situation analysis & hard-decision-making skills.

Off course, I realize that I won't have enough time to come up with such a "perfect behaviour answer". And now, I'm dying to get feedback & know the right answer! :-)

I agree with most answers on top that tell your best friend to take the old lady in the car and you spend time with your perfect partner. With no offence to anyone, I feel these are "ideal" answers.

In reality though, I would take my friend along as I have a social bond with him, know him and also am indebted to him as he has saved my life. I also do not think that I would choose my partner in one glance looking at her at a bus stop. Also the bus will come and the old lady and the girl can hop on.

It may sound mean, but in reality how many of us do really help strangers today? Also there are so many people out there who need help, would you really put yourself in a position of facing the storm yourself. It maybe easy of us to think of helping out sitting and typing in front of computers, but would we really do so and how many people have we helped at bus stops?

In the corporate world too, we always do not see just things happening and sometimes we dont do just things. Have you been a boss who had to tell a old and loyal employee to leave if the company was not doing well, do you leave? If we all had a giving attitude and were just, would there be so much inequality?

If the old lady and girl were in trouble, my answer would have been different

There would be some Logical Reasoning behind my choice: I don't want to simply pick one but rather I'd like to explain the reason behind my decision.

I'd try to analyze who amongst them needs the ride the most. It "could be" the old lady depending on her state (health and medical condition) and the circumstances and if i felt she was the most neediest of them all.

The "Perfect partner": I do not believe anyone in their right mind would decide after seeing a lady on the bus stop that she's "The one". It's a stranger and I'm not delusional and Alhamdulillah my Impulses are under control. Appearences can be very decieving.

I would offer the lift to the old friend as I not only know him well but also owe him my life.

The "Dreamy ideal woman" and the "old lady" could be con-artists. I'm kind but i'm also cautious.

The only scenario I see myself offering the ride to the dream girl would be if she was pregnant or in need of some "real obvious" emergency. Other than that it's a No go!

Note: I understand this might not be the best answer. But it IS the right one for ME, as it is Truthful. I'd pick my friend most likely.

Very Interesting Question Sir!

If the adjustment of all4 is impossible then I will give the car to my best friend and request him to drive the old lady to her destination and wait for the bus with the dream partner.

Get my old friend to take the car and the old lady and I will stay with my perfect partnet to be.

I would prefer to give the car key to the so called perfect partner to take along the old lady. Position my self at the bus stop with my friend as we are strong enough to face the rough weather and wait for an alternative.

If one is strong then one ought to face the difficult situation by being on the fore front.

Set good example !

The best decision is I will give my car keys to my friend and ask him to drop the old lady at her destination, and I will wait for a bus with my dream partners. 

LOL - Of course I will give my car to my best friend to drive the Old Lady and wait for the bus with my dream girl -

Nice One.

First up all I will ask my friend to help the old lady in getting into the car because she is the one first should be looked after second my dream partner can be also a lady third my old fiend because after all he is my friend who can understand the situation .I will drop the old lady to her home ,secondly to my old friend ,third I will spend my time with my dream partner due to the fact that we shold speak many things in privacy.

I would like to give my car key to my old friend and excuse him to take with him by the way the old lady .

Then enjoy with my partner dream together by bus.