What’s the quickest way for a passenger to lose their VIP seat in your car? For a lot of drivers, that would be offering unsolicited driving advice. New research from Guessing Headlights lists the most annoying passenger habits, and backseat driving tops the list.
According to the survey of 2-thousand adults across the country:
- About four in ten drivers say backseat driving is the most irritating passenger habit (42%).
- Close behind is leaving trash in the car (41%).
- Drivers also admit they can tolerate an annoying passenger habit for just over 13 minutes on average before feeling the need to say something.
- About half would speak up within 10 minutes, and roughly one in five would call it out almost immediately.
- Patience tends to increase with age, as 30% of baby boomers say they’d stay quiet no matter how long the drive lasts, compared to just 16% of Gen Z.
If you want to avoid becoming that passenger, consider this your unofficial rulebook for earning a ride:
- Backseat driving (42%)
- Leaving trash behind (41%)
- Complaining about your driving (38%)
- Eating messy or smelly food (31%)
- Saying “watch out!” even when nothing is wrong (31%)
- Putting feet on the dashboard (30%)
- Changing the music without asking (29%)
- Slamming the door too hard (28%)
- Yelling “brake!” when you’re already slowing down (26%)
- Talking loudly on the phone (26%)
- Being late for pickup (26%)
- Giving unwanted directions (26%)
- Saying “you could’ve made that light” (22%)
- Pointing out the speed limit constantly (21%)
- Saying “I would’ve taken the other route” (20%)
- Not offering gas money (19%)
- Fiddling with the AC or window controls (18%)
- Constantly asking “Are we there yet?” (18%)
- Bringing a pet without warning (17%)
- Wanting to make unnecessary pit stops (15%)
- Saying “you’re a little close to the curb” (15%)
- Telling you you’re riding the brakes too hard (14%)
- Holding onto a handle as if nervous (12%)
- Talking over the GPS (11%)
- Messing with the GPS (10%)
- Hogging the armrest (10%)
- Critiquing your parallel parking (10%)
- Falling asleep and snoring (10%)
- Reclining the seat too far back (9%)
- Sucking air through their teeth (9%)
Source: Talker