How To Deal with a Backseat Driver
Andrew Koole
· 4 min read
There are few things
more annoying
than a backseat driver. Whether they’re actually behind you or sitting to your right, people who try to tell you how to drive while you are actually driving can leave you feeling anxious, belittled, and infuriated. Unless they’re actually your driving instructor, you likely want to tell whoever’s “instructing” you to back off the more incessant they get. But getting frustrated will make an already distracting situation even more hazardous.
So what’s the best way to deal with a backseat driver?
Jerry
scoured through the Internet, looking for answers. The advice found can help keep your car a calm, anger-free zone. 
How to talk to a backseat driver
Basically, two things motivate someone to do what we call backseat driving: fear and ego. Maybe the road conditions or your driving makes them nervous. Maybe they just think they could do a better job than you. Either way, their comments are a grasp at control.
No matter which side of the coin your culprit’s impulse comes from, it’s important to communicate with them calmly so you don’t escalate the situation into a full-on argument. Let them know that their comments are distracting. Tell them how you feel. Calmly.
Most backseat drivers want to help you drive more safely. But
Inc.com
says the data shows that they’re having the opposite effect. The data reveals 14% of drivers claim that comments from the backseat have caused them to have an accident or a near-miss. Sharing this fact could convince them to stop.Other tips for dealing with backseat drivers
Sometimes, dealing with the problem of backseat driving directly doesn’t do the trick. Some people form habits of backseat driving, and will unconsciously do it even if you’ve asked them to stop.
If you know you have to drive someone prone to backseat driving, Ohio’s
WTOV9
has a few ideas to curb the comments. The easiest thing is to distract the distractor by listening to something engaging, be it music, radio, or a podcast.If it’s control they want, give them some. Let them decide what to listen to. Give them navigation duties. If you’re on a longer trip, have them research pit stops and places to eat along the way.
If none of this works, the best thing you can do is avoid driving the person. Better to arrive safely alone than to get into an accident because of a distracting passenger.
The ugly truth: the problem might not be the backseat driver
If you regularly have to deal with backseat driver’s it might be a good indicator that you need to reexamine your driving habits. Maybe the people in the car feel anxious because you’re being reckless.
Even if you follow traffic laws, using defensive driving techniques will give passengers less to critique. It can also help you decrease your anxiety on the road, save fuel, and save on car insurance, too. There’s really no downside to driving safely.
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MORE: The Benefits of Taking a Defensive Driving Course
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