Fierce Debate Rages Over Who Gets to Ride Shotgun, Wife or Mother-in-law

Everyone knows the unwritten rules of how to call the passenger seat in the car, by shouting "shotgun" as soon as you're in sight of the vehicle.

Arguably the best spot after the driver's seat, it usually ensures ample legroom, good views, access to the radio and most importantly—you're not squashed in the back.

Whether you're sitting alone or squeezed in between two people, the back is definitely the worst place to sit, even more so if you have to perform contortions to get in there if the car is a two-door.

Which is why a fierce debate is raging online over who would get preference to sit the front between a wife and a mother-in-law.

The question was asked on Mumsnet by user WellThatsNice, who wrote: "Assuming that you don't/aren't driving, if your MiL [mother-in-law] comes to stay, are you in the passenger seat or the back?

"(Particularly if you are taller than MiL, and she has no mobility issues?) Does, or should, age take priority?"

The query, posted on Sunday, has amassed more than 150 replies as people debated the pecking order, with the majority of people erring on the side of the in-law.

In the post, a few people cited height, mobility issues and travel sickness as other issues to factor in.

Fridafever wrote: "I would let my MIL (or my own mother) sit in the front." Coffy11 thought: "Whoever got there first." Jamsandwich1 reckoned: "I would let my MiL go in front!"

Spaghag replied: "I would let MIL have the front seat. It's not a matter of being more important, it's pure respect & good manners."

FunkyPhantom commented: "If she didn't call 'Shotgun' she's in the back."

WinterSpringSummerorFall simply said: "Offer the guest the front seat. Always."

WimpoleHat admitted: "As others have said, you do the "no, you have it" dance for a minute or so. And then the taller person sits there."

NeverChange responded: "MIL has first refusal of the front seat as a sign of respect imo."

WouldBeGood agreed, saying: "MIL in front. Always the older guest."

HandScreen stated: "Oh my God, you should offer you MIL the front seat, you absolute brat."

But Beattieedny thought: "Wife of course. Unless mother in law is unable to because of mobility problems that come with age."

And MadCattery revealed: "I am a MIL and I insist on sitting in the back."

While Mrstwiddle added: "Agree with others, it indicates a lack of respect to your MIL and really it's just basic good manners."

Although there's no definitive laws governing the passenger seat, website Motorist claimed age usually trumps other factors.

They said: "'More important' individuals include the driver's parents, significant other, or boss. You are also expected to offer the front seat to someone who is more senior than you."

After hearing the numerous responses, WellThatsNice observed there was "a fairly clear consensus."

They added: "I just found myself wondering as there has never been a 'polite dance' here, I always seem to be the last to the car by which time MiL has installed herself and DH seems to expect this.

"It occurred to me that I'm not sure the same assumptions apply when it's my mother or if I'm driving, and I'm fairly sure DSiL and her husband stick her in the back..."

It's a debate a lot of families probably have, with 2020 statistics from the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration revealing there were nearly 228.2 million licensed drivers in the US.

California issued the highest number of licensed drivers of all the states, at 27 million, compared to the next highest, Texas, with 17.6 million.