Driver’s/driving seat

Origin of: Driver’s/driving seat

Driver’s/driving seat

To be in the driving seat is generally thought to be more British, while to be in the driver’s seat is more American. They both mean the same thing, i.e. to have control or authority over a situation or state of affairs. The expression derives from the driver of a horse-drawn wagon or coach, i.e. the person in control, and its figurative meaning and use dates from the early 19th century.