Spill the Tea After You Park
There are plenty of great conversations to have in the car, whether it's about your most recent trip abroad or your new favorite band. You know what's not great? Heated debates and emotionally draining topics. Some discussions are best saved for when the car is parked and away from traffic—and we've compiled a list of them. Here are 20 conversations you should never have while driving.
1. Heated Arguments
You should never have heated arguments when driving, and the reason should be obvious: when you're highly emotional, upset, or angry, you're much more likely to lose focus of the road in front of you. This makes it much more likely for you to cause an accident.
2. Breakups or Divorce
If you're thinking of breaking up with your partner or possibly initiating a divorce, these are conversations better had at home, in a controlled environment. In the car, surrounded by traffic, is not the place you should be bringing these topics up.
3. Sad or Emotional Topics
You should also avoid talking about anything overly sad or traumatic when behind the wheel. This includes conversations about the passing of a loved one, reports of fatal accidents, painful experiences, or heartbreaking news about the people close to you.
4. Political Discussions
Even if getting into heated political debates is your cup of tea, these discussions shouldn't be had when you're on the road. Leave it for when you're at your destination, and not when one offhanded comment against a political leader could make you swerve the car.
5. Problem-Solving
Any conversation that requires complex problem-solving should be had when you're away from the road, too. So, even if you're excellent at mental math, it's probably better for you to do those calculations when you don't need to be focused on driving.
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6. Navigational Confusion
Not sure which way to turn or where your exit is? Instead of getting into debates in the car about how and where to get back on track, plan your routes before you start driving. Plus, if you have a GPS, let it do what it's programmed to do instead of taking your attention off the road to argue about a missed turn.
7. Funny Stories
We're not saying you should never talk about anything funny when driving, but if you have an overly ridiculous story to share that's guaranteed to cause some uncontrollable laughter, it's probably better you tell it when the car is stopped and parked. A too-funny joke could make the driver lose control of the wheel.
8. Serious Health Conversations
Health conversations can also be incredibly sensitive and emotionally taxing. If you've just learned of a new diagnosis, refrain from sharing it right away when the car is still moving. Bring it up when you're safe and off the road.
9. Frightening Tales
Unless everyone in the car is a big horror buff and can handle a few spooky tales, you should probably not be telling ghost stories while you're in a moving car. These tales can sound even more creepy after dark, so avoid sharing them when driving at night.
10. Criticisms About Driving
Unless someone's driving is so bad you have to comment on it for the safety of everyone onboard, throwing out unnecessary and unsolicited critiques may only distract the driver further. Leave the driving lesson refreshers for when the car is parked.
11. Major Life Transitions
If you're planning to make a major life transition, such as changing careers, going back to school, starting a family, moving to a new country, or quitting your job, these conversations might be too sensitive and require too much emotional energy to be had on the road. Bring these topics up when you're not behind the wheel.
12. Important Decisions
How would you feel if someone sprung an ultimatum on you while you were driving and gave you only 10 seconds to make a decision? Probably not very good, right? If you need to make an important decision, don't do it when your focus is supposed to be on the road.
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13. Marriage Proposals
"I'm going to propose to my partner while driving!" said no one ever. There's a good reason why marriage proposals are done off the road and in special, romantic spots, so keep that ring in your pocket for now and wait until you're out of the car.
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14. Financial Debates
Just like major decisions, you shouldn't have debates or discussions about finances when you're driving. Why? Simply because talks about money tend to be stressful, and as we've seen so far, volatile emotions and driving don't bode well.
15. Complex Planning
If you're planning for a social event, wedding, vacation, or any other occasion that requires deep thinking, leave the conversation for another time when you're not behind the wheel. You don't want to be too hasty in making important decisions just because your attention was half on the road.
16. Mental Health
Conversations about mental health can also be incredibly taxing and demand a lot of emotional energy, so refrain from discussing these topics when you're in a moving car. Circle back to them later, when you're in a safer environment away from traffic.
17. Relationship Troubles
Just like how you shouldn't have conversations about breakups or divorce when driving, you should also avoid talks about relationship troubles. These discussions can rouse anger and become heated or emotional, so it's best to come back to them when you're no longer behind the wheel.
18. Work
Why shouldn't you talk about work when driving? Simple: because work is stressful, and conversations about it can be, too. Unless you have a quick anecdote to share, leave the rant about your boss or gossip about your coworkers for later, once you're off the road.
19. Conversations About the Past
Conversations about the past in a nostalgic sense might be okay to have, but if you're bringing up the past because you want to dig up old mistakes and revisit painful memories, don't discuss these topics in the car. Plus, it's also best to leave the past in the past.
20. Legal Discussions
It should go without saying that you should probably not have legal discussions while driving, even if you're a professional. These conversations are sensitive, stressful, and take up too much attention when your focus should be on the road, so refrain from having these talks behind the wheel.
