'Shotgun' car seat rules explained as Brits set for summer road trips
The phrase 'riding shotgun' stems from the American Wild West, when stagecoaches had an armed guard up front to fend off bandits. Now, it means calling dibs on the front seat.
Nobody wants to be stuck in the middle
(Image: Maskot via Getty Images)
The battle for the prized front passenger seat, or 'riding shotgun', is heating up as Brits prepare for summer road trips. However, recent research has finally settled the age-old argument over who gets to occupy this prime spot.
As we're no longer in the Wild West days. Today, 'shotgun' is all about securing the best view for the journey, especially with four in ten adults planning road trips this summer and nobody wanting to be stuck in the dreaded middle seat.
A survey of 2,000 adults has dispelled the notion that the driver's partner always gets the front seat. The rules are simple: unless someone has a physical need, it's a race to be the first to shout 'shotgun', but only if you the car is in sight.
What's more, according to the poll, your claim to the front seat only lasts for one leg of the journey.
Four in ten have refused to get in the car if they didn't get their preferred spot
(Image: Getty Images)
In the event of a tie, 12 per cent believe the driver should make the final decision, while five per cent settle it with a trivia question.
The study, commissioned by Tempcover, found that a quarter of Brits have had a heated debate over seating arrangements, with siblings being the most likely to bicker.
Surprisingly, a third of parents have even clashed with their own children. Four in ten admit they've refused to get in the car at all if they didn't secure their preferred seat.
Tempcover has teamed up with JLS star JB Gill, who is currently on tour with the band's reunion concerts, to launch the Official Rules of Shotgun.
JB said: "Calling shotgun before a car journey has sparked friendly competition over who gets to ride in the highly prized front seat for generations."
JB added: "Ever since I first started driving, the front seat was always the one that every passenger wanted and as you can imagine, it's led to MANY heated debates.
"Every driver has their own shotgun rules so having official rules in place means there's now a neutral way to make the decision and (hopefully) help the journey start smoothly from the off".
The research found that three out of ten Brits have told porkies to nab the front seat, with 'helping with directions' being the top fib. Additionally, 28 per cent have feigned travel sickness to avoid being relegated to the back seat.
Marc Pell, managing director at Tempcover, which offers temporary car insurance so people can borrow a bigger car and take turns behind the wheel, added: "With summer here, more people are taking to the road with friends and family.
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"We asked people to share their ultimate shotgun wisdom to keep the rules simple and the process fair - helping car journeys start with fewer disputes over who gets the coveted front passenger seat with its better view and extra legroom.
"And if you share the driving, you can all take it in turns to ride shotgun too."
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