LONDON: “Are we there yet?”
“Can you change the radio station”
“Stop kicking my chair”
“Please stop driving so close to the car in front”
We have all been there, tensions high in the car as we head on our latest adventure or holiday during the holiday break.
With the average family set to spend about 3½ hours a week together driving on the roads during the holidays, new research from Britain shows our relationships could be tested to the limits.
The figures by Renault show more than a fifth (21%) are having arguments for simple things like the driver going the wrong way, a further 20% squabbling over how their partner drives and 25% admitting to being more prone to rowing when the kids are misbehaving.
A further quarter (25%) admit they carry on existing arguments with their partner during a car journey, one in 5 (18%) struggle to keep their children entertained in the car.
Relationship expert Persia Lawson believes time spent in the car can be vital time for bonding, building relationships and spending time together.
It’s not all bad though, the research also highlights how some people are using their long car journeys to build their relationships foundations and how technology in modern cars can also improve the experience.
Almost a quarter (23%) of us say we have deep chats with our partner while driving, with 39% having more light-hearted conversations, 34% discussing forthcoming life events, and 31% talking about music.
Car features including comfortable seats (42%), a great sound system (26%) and space for everyone (26%) can make a real difference, with technology like infotainment apps including Songpop in the Renault Scenic E Tech can enable families to take part in quizzes and games throughout their journey.
The research was conducted by Opinion Matters and was based amongst a panel resulting in 2,002 UK adults, aged 18+. — PA Media
