We have studies on just about everything nowadays, so it comes to no surprise that someone paid for one to find out who are the worst passengers, according to drivers.
The results of the survey of 500 drivers commissioned by the Insurance site are not that surprising. Husbands and wives are the worst backseat drivers, with 40 percent of men saying their wives are the most annoying passengers and 34 percent of women drivers saying the same thing about their husbands.
But that’s not all. Mothers and friends also ranked high in the “Worst Backseat Drivers” survey. Among men, wives were followed by friends (17 percent) and mothers (15 percent) as most annoying. Among women, husbands were followed by mothers (18 percent) and friends (15 percent). Adult daughters were also described by 7 percent of men and women as being annoying, as well as the “my child, son” category (5 percent).
So what makes husbands, wives, mothers and friends annoying? Well, commenting on driving speed is the most bothersome backseat driver behavior, outpacing the No. 2 offense – giving directions – by 18 points, according to the survey.
The top offenses of passengers are commenting on driving speed (47 percent), giving directions (29 percent), talking too much (19 percent), pushing imaginary brake with foot (15 percent), fiddling with radio or CD player (10 percent), talking on phone or texting (7 percent), singing (6 percent) and eating (3 percent).
Survey respondents also listed bothersome passenger behaviors that were not listed in the survey, including making faces and gestures, screaming about something the driver is already aware of, telling the driver to go faster, blocking the rear view mirror, getting car sick, giving incorrect directions, grabbing handles, complaining about driver not braking softly enough and others.
I’m sure each of you out there can add some new annoying passenger behaviors to the list, so feel free to do it in the commentary section.
By Dan Mihalascu
PHOTO GALLERY
