There is a backseat driver in every car. Do not be a backseat driver.
There is a driver, passenger in the passenger seat, someone sitting in the back on their phone, and there is the person with their eyes closed right behind the driver screaming for their life. We all know one, and at times can be one.
When You Are The Driver
The irritation and anxiety that builds up is unreal when you have that one person telling you how to drive. When you were practicing for your drivers test, your mom would clinch onto the side of the door telling you to stop the car when the light is green. Then you have your friend who is a mother figure who is telling you there are things are on the road when there really isn’t. Nothing is more frustrating when you are the driver, listening to that backseat driver.
When You Are In Tight Spaces
You find the last spot in the parking lot where it is a tight space but you will fit, as you turn into the spot, you immediately slam on your breaks screaming to see what is wrong. You find your friend yelling to you saying you’re going to hit the car, or they can’t watch because you are too close.
When The Radio Turns On
Finally there is a red light to stop at so you can change the radio station. That one song comes on, and the volume goes up. It is a great moment because the song just started, and as you start singing the first line, your body gets so enraged. The passenger, or backseat driver is yelling to turn the music down, or starts a random conversation. Biggest pet peeve when the backseat driver talks when your song comes on.
When They Think They Are Helping
Don’t think, you are not helping. Criticizing every move or action taken on the road is going to cause an accident before you get a polite response from the driver. So thank you sis, I will make that right turn as if I did not have my blinker on for two minutes. If I miss a turn, do not freak out, casually say, “Just make a right up here” and it will be fine. If you freak out, I freak out.
When You Become A Backseat Driver
Everyone can become hypocritical when it comes to backseat driving. You are sitting in the backseat and the car is going to slow, trying so hard not to tell the driver to get into another lane. They stop at a stop sign too close to a car, and you bite your tongue so you do not tell them they are so close. Your body cringes and gets the chills every time you want to say something, but hold yourself back from saying it. We can all be hypocrites.
Awkward Situations
When you are the backseat driver or even if you have a backseat driver when you are driving, times will occur with awkward situations. You keep complaining you are hot and you want the windows down because the air condition is not working, but the driver will not let you roll your window down. As the driver after telling them no, you become hot and feel awkward to roll your window down after freaking out on the backseat driver. The backseat driver keeps talking, becoming noticeably obnoxious, so you blast your radio to block them out, and you realize it is too loud. The backseat driver yells for you to lower it. Awkward, you want to lower it but you are trying to prove a point. The absolute worst, is when you are driving and they constantly tell you to switch lanes, so you stay in one lane to piss them off, then realize you are going too slow and really want to switch lanes. Again, trying to prove a point is the worst.
We all do not want a backseat driver. Do not be a backseat driver, you will get grey hair from your nerves. Thank you for always reminding me of that Mom.
