How to Survive the Backseat Driver in Your Life

Find out why the most dangerous distractions could be happening in your car, one word at a time.

Most of us know that using a mobile phone while driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do. But it turns out that something innocuous, like having a conversation with your fellow passengers, is riskier still, by prying your attention away from the traffic around you.

Why are backseat drivers so hazardous?

Not just because they may turn us into distracted drivers, but because they divert our attention from the road. According to a 2016 study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, drivers more than double their crash risk when they choose to engage in distracting activities that require them to take their eyes off the road. To keep you safe, here are a few tips to keep the backseat driver in your life from distracting you.

3 Tips to silence a backseat driver

1. Discuss the ride beforehand

A quick chat about the route you’re taking and the upcoming rush hour will ensure you’re aligned before you even get in the car. That way, if your backseat driver pipes up mid-ride, you can say, “I know, we spoke about it already.” Hopefully in a calm, cheerful way, and not through gritted teeth.

It could also be that your chatty friend is trying to help because they don’t know you’ve already got it covered. A passenger hollering “there’s a car in your blind spot” may be helpful in some instances, but is redundant if you’re driving a Subaru. That’s because Subaru’s Blind Spot Detection uses radar sensors mounted on the back of the car, which activate a warning light in either the driver or passenger side mirror depending on which side the vehicle is approaching. Before your friend can shout ‘blind spot,’ you’ll be out of the danger zone and they’ll be left thinking you’ve got eyes in the back of your head.

2. Resist the urge to make eye contact

Easier said than done, perhaps. Humans are wired to look into someone’s eyes, especially when we’re conversing. But behind the wheel, taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds can double your risk of a car crash, according to a 2014 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

So even if you’re not angry with your backseat navigator, by the time you’ve turned your head to figure out what they’re saying you’ve dramatically increased your risk of getting into an accident. But Subaru can help make sure you don’t run into the car ahead of you (or to the side).

With Subaru’s EyeSight Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), all you have to do is choose one of four pre-set following distances to establish a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you. If the car in front of you begins to slow down, without even touching the brake pedal, your Subaru will slow or safely decelerate to a stop in order to maintain that safe distance. If the car ahead begins to accelerate again, all you have to do is push the ‘resume’ button on the steering wheel and the ACC will accelerate until you reach your safe follow distance or reach the pre-set speed.

To keep you safe from the sides, Subaru’s EyeSight Lane Departure Warning and Lane Sway Warning use road markings to monitor your position within your lane. Even before you drift into another lane, or sway back and forth, a visual and audible warning will alert you.

But even when you’re stopped at a traffic light, taking your eyes off the road can be dangerous.

3. Let technology do the talking

For backseat drivers, stopping at a red light represents an opportunity to have your undivided attention. But even when you’re stopped at a traffic light, taking your eyes off the road can be dangerous, especially if you fail to notice the light has changed and the driver ahead has begun to move. Subaru’s EyeSight Lead Vehicle Start Alert will detect that the vehicle ahead is moving and prompt you using an audio and visual cue to get going.

Finally, being able to ignore a backseat driver may prove impossible. Some people just have to be in control, and driving tends to exacerbate this behaviour. If you feel comfortable enough, before the journey even starts ask if your backseat driver would prefer to drive instead.

If they say yes it will give you a chance to sit back and show them what it looks like to enjoy the ride.