Shotgun rules explained in full - exactly when you're allowed to nab best seat

The battle for the front passenger seat – or 'riding shotgun' – is heating up as millions of Brits prepare for summer road trips. Now, new research has finally settled the age-old debate over who gets to call dibs on the coveted spot.

The term ‘riding shotgun’ dates back to the Wild West, when an armed guard sat next to the stagecoach driver to fend off bandits. These days, it’s all about bagging the best seatfor the journey especially with four in ten adults planning road trips this summer and nobody wanting to be stuck in the dreaded middle seat.

The survey of 2,000 adults has busted the myth that the driver’s spouse always gets first pick. Instead, the rules are clear: unless someone has a physical need, it’s simply a race to be the first to shout ‘shotgun’ – but only if you’re within sight of the car. It comes after UK drivers were warned over 'avoiding' road instead of having to follow new rule.

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But the rules don’t end there. According to the survey, your claim to the front seat only lasts for one leg of the journey. If there’s a tie, 12 per cent say the driver should decide, while five per cent settle it with a quiz question.

The research, commissioned by Tempcover, even found that 26 per cent of Brits have had a blazing row over who sits where, with siblings most likely to bicker. A third of parents have even clashed with their own kids, and four in ten admit they’ve refused to get in the car altogether if they didn’t get their way.

Tempcover has teamed up with JLS star JB Gill, who’s hitting the road for the band’s reunion tour, 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.

"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”.

Three in ten have made up excuses to nab the front seat, with ‘helping with directions’ the most popular fib. Another 28 per cent have faked travel sickness to avoid being relegated to the back.

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.

“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.”