Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts

1. Why must you tell me every time you see a red light ahead? I’m the one who is driving. Stop being a back-seat driver.
2. Andy’s mother always made him nervous when he drove her to the store. She would tell him where to turn, how fast to drive, and where to park. She was a back-seat driver.

When cars were first developed in the 1920s, wealthy car owners would often ride in the back seats, telling their drivers where to go, where to turn, etc. Now such a practice by anyone is seen as intrusive and rude.