## The Rules of Riding ‘Shotgun’ as Summer Road Trip Season Approaches
With the arrival of the summer holidays, many families up and down the UK are preparing to hit the roads for getaways and day trips around the country. While much attention tends to be paid to destinations, packing lists, and car snacks, one aspect that has sparked frequent debate is who gets to sit in the coveted front passenger seat—colloquially known as ‘riding shotgun’.
Originally, the term ‘shotgun’ harks back to the American Wild West era, where the seat beside the stagecoach driver was reserved for an armed guard prepared to ward off bandits. Fast-forward to today and the phrase has taken on a lighter meaning, with passengers vying for the best view and the most legroom on modern journeys.
A recent nationwide survey of 2,000 adults sheds new light on the unwritten codes that dictate who is allowed to claim the prized front seat. As families and friends ready themselves for holiday excursions, this age-old tradition has become increasingly competitive, with research dispelling the myth that the seat is reserved solely for the driver’s partner. In fact, findings suggest ‘first come, first served’ rules now preside—so long as participants shout ‘shotgun’ while the car is physically in sight.
For many, this simple ritual isn’t just about comfort, but can be the difference between a peaceful journey and a bumpy start. Research revealed that around 25 per cent of Brits have had heated discussions or even full-blown fallouts about who deserves to sit in the front. Siblings, predictably, top the list for bickering, although a surprising third of parents admitted to having disputes with their own children over seating arrangements.
The data further revealed the passionate lengths some will go to for their preferred spot. Around four in ten respondents confessed to refusing to get in the car altogether if denied their first choice seat. When a ‘shotgun’ claim is tied, respondents were split on the fairest resolution: 12 per cent suggested the driver should decide, whilst another 5 per cent preferred using a trivia quiz as a tiebreaker.
Interestingly, the survey found that a person’s claim to the front seat only extends to one leg of the journey. This ensures that everyone has a fair chance to enjoy the front seat, reducing long-standing grudges during longer car trips. The passport to the best seat is, it seems, a temporary privilege.
Some tactics verge on the creative. Three in ten admitted they have told a white lie or two to claim the front seat—posing as helpful navigators tops the list of fibs, while another 28 per cent have feigned travel sickness to avoid being relegated to the back.
In an effort to provide clarity and reduce in-car squabbles, temporary car insurance provider Tempcover has collaborated with JLS singer JB Gill to introduce the ‘Official Rules of Shotgun’. Gill, who is currently touring with the band, acknowledged the decades-old tradition: “Calling shotgun before a car journey has sparked friendly competition over who gets to ride in the highly prized front seat for generations,” he said. Gill added that standardising the process could be the key to smoothing over disputes and ensuring a pleasant start to any journey.
Marc Pell, managing director at Tempcover, echoed this sentiment. “With summer here, more people are on the road with friends and family. We asked the public to share their ultimate shotgun wisdom, hoping to keep the process fair and simple so that journeys can begin with fewer arguments over the best seat,” he explained.
As millions of motorists plan trips around the UK, the ritual of ‘riding shotgun’ is likely to remain a light-hearted but fiercely-contested tradition. Whether you’re in a family saloon or a borrowed people carrier, having an agreed set of rules may just help keep journeys harmonious—leaving more time for singing along to the radio and admiring the view. In any case, the etiquette of the front seat continues to evolve, proving that even in the age of GPS and air conditioning, some old customs die hard.