“iirc the offer of a room was made only to brian since he was the nominally injured party.”
The offer was to Brian but he was given the choice on who would take the room.
Selfish (stupid southerners and republicans) Brian took the room leaving Gabby alone on the road with a van she said she was not familiar driving.
I did not read the claim you make. I suppose it. Oils be true. However...
I am not certain that we have all the details of the inputs that went into the decisions made on that day.
As to politics I am not certain that it has much relevance to the final outcomes of the story.
Gabby survived that day and that evening apparently unharmed, so the concern about her lack of van driving ability would appear to be a red herring in The long run... imho...