GLADSTONE, Mo. — June 14, 2025 — A Gladstone man is recovering after a minor single-car accident Thursday afternoon, which he claims could have been avoided—if only his wife had been there to offer her usual stream of unsolicited driving advice.
According to police, the man, identified as 47-year-old Jeff K., was heading southbound on North Oak Trafficway when he failed to yield properly at the turn onto 64th Street and drove his 2008 Toyota Camry directly into a decorative boulder. No one else was injured, but Jeff’s pride took a serious hit—along with his front bumper.
“Honestly, I just didn’t have anyone yelling ‘watch it!’ or ‘slow down!’ or ‘why are you taking this road?’” Jeff said from his driveway, as he assessed the damage and fielded gentle judgment from his neighbors. “It turns out, her backseat driving might’ve actually been keeping me alive.”
His wife, Brenda, normally rides shotgun and has a well-documented history of “helpful suggestions,” ranging from pointing out obvious stop signs to reminding Jeff that the speed limit is not a suggestion.
“I’ve been telling him for years that he needs me to keep him in check,” Brenda said, not missing a beat. “Now maybe he’ll believe me. I mean, who takes a roundabout like a NASCAR turn?”
Jeff admitted that without his wife's constant commentary, he “got a little too confident” and “misjudged the geometry of the thing.”
The Camry sustained moderate front-end damage, and a potted plant at the center of the roundabout was tragically lost. The city has not yet decided whether to issue a citation or send Jeff a thank-you note for proving once and for all that backseat drivers might actually serve a purpose.
“I used to complain,” Jeff said. “But now, I think I’ll install a GPS that just yells ‘TOO FAST!’ every few minutes. It’s cheaper than car repairs.”
No charges were filed, but Brenda has reportedly resumed her rightful place in the passenger seat—armed with a full thermos of coffee and renewed purpose.
Public safety officials remind drivers that while independence is admirable, a second pair of eyes—especially nagging ones—can sometimes save the day.
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