13 Irritating Things that Annoying Car Passengers do

Driving with friends in the car can be fun. Sometimes it can break up the monotony of a long journey, and especially if you are going somewhere fun, it can change a long drive from a boring necessity to a fun time. However, sometimes having passengers can mean that you also have to put up with the annoying things that they do while you drive. We’ve all experienced at least a few of these, so let’s spend some time to vent together.

1. backseat driving

There is perhaps nothing worse than someone sitting shotgun, telling you what to do, and warning you of potential hazards the whole time that you are driving. Also in this category: nervous passengers.

2. eating in your car

When a passenger is eating and you are not, it can be a real distraction. No driver wants to put up with the smell of food, the sound of eating, the crumbs in the upholstery, and the trash that will undoubtedly be left behind.

3. singing loudly along to the music

You are probably listening to music because you like the song, not because you want to hear someone else sing loudly over the top of it. The one exception to this rule is when you are singing too as part of a whole car karaoke session. Also in this category: overzealous dancing.

4. changing the music

While we are on the subject of music, one of the biggest passenger crimes is to change the music. The driver is always the DJ, that’s just one of the rules of the road.

5. adjusting the temperature

Whether someone is fiddling with the aircon or opening a window when the cool air is on, it is a crime to mess with the temperature in someone else’s car.

6. taking long phone calls

So I guess we won’t be talking? Well that’s ok, I’ll just listen to music…oh wait, I can’t. Guess I’ll just awkwardly listen to your conversation then.

7. spending the whole drive on their phone/texting

“Sorry, I’ll talk to you in a minute, just let me finish this level/text/tweet.” Also in this category: reading a book.

8. falling asleep

Nothing makes you feel like a chauffeur more than a sleeping passenger, only you are not getting paid.

9. Monologuing

Yes I would like to know about your day, but at some point I’d also like to tell you about mine.

10. putting their feet on your dash

You might not mind at the time, but once you find yourself cleaning dirt off the dash or toeprints off the windshield, you will definitely feel differently.

11. leaving trash in your car

If someone enters the car with something, they should also leave with it.

12. pointing out things that you can’t look at/trying to show you things

You are the driver, so you naturally try to keep your eyes on the road. For some reason some passengers forget this fact when they try to show you a funny thing on their phone, or point and yell “look at that dog!”

13. using your armrest

In case you haven’t noticed the theme here, it is that the driver is the boss of the car. As such, if there is a shared armrest between the front two seats, you had better let the driver use it.

What are your pet peeves when it comes to car passengers? What are the rules of your car? Let us know on Facebook or on our Google+ page. If you hate distracted driving, also check out our Stop Distracted Driving community on Google+.