So my friend and I are talking last night, talking about back-seat driving, when the following question comes up. Does an actual driving instructor, someone with years of training and experience… do they get any more respect as a back-seat driver than your average Joe?
Thanks,
John
(Since I imagine this issue as quite subjective, i left it out of GQ.)
No. They, of all people, should realize that distractions are a major cause of accidents. I drove with my father once, who taught defensive driving to city bus drivers. He just casually observed my techniques and gave me some pointers and advice after we arrived at our destination. 10 years later, I still remember what he said: I was hugging my right side too much, and I should set the windshield wipers faster for better visibility in the rain.
I think of a back seat driver as someone who tries to micromanage every maneuver, every lane change, every speed adjustment, etc. My father certainly didn’t do those things, but instead gave me advice on how to observe traffic and protect my vehicle.