The biggest family ‘carguments’ have been revealed. A poll of 2,000 drivers with children younger than 17 found the majority of them have argued with their offspring while travelling by car.
Being hungry (34%) was the biggest cause of disagreements among those who have done so – ahead of constantly asking ‘are we nearly there yet?’(26%). Although, it emerged kids only need to ask this question three times before parents start feeling annoyed.
The study commissioned by Vauxhall, following the launch of its new Frontera family SUV, found 14% have fallen out over poor phone or internet signal.
As a result of such issues, 55% are reluctant to take their family on a road trip, and 47% said going on a long drive with children is more stressful than going abroad with them.
Steve Catlin, managing director of the car maker, said: “Road trips are a great opportunity to connect as a family, but when the conditions aren’t perfect, it can cause tensions to boil over.
“As parents, we all know that making sure you have the right snacks, space, and road trip playlist can go a long way in ensuring a harmonious journey.”
The study also found kids getting bored (50%), sibling arguments (37%), and keeping them entertained (35%) provide the biggest challenges for a long drive.
To combat this 71% prepare snacks and drinks to prevent the challenges before they kick off – while 22% stick to travelling during nap times.
More than half (52%) said lots of room in the back of the car would make journeys with children much easier – whereas 45% highlighted music streaming via Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as the real difference maker.
The study, conducted via OnePoll.com, found 52% of parents have threatened to turn the car around because their children weren’t behaving – and 34% have followed up on that threat.
When looking for a new family car 74% said comfort is their top priority – but 57% admitted they were more driven by safety.
The spokesperson for the British car brand added: “Equally important as preparing for a trip is having a car that can help make the journey easier.
“The new Vauxhall Frontera is designed to be family-friendly, with a spacious interior, tech to keep everyone connected and features such as the Intelli-Seat to help long journeys pass in comfort.”
THE 10 MOST COMMON CARGUMENTS BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN:
1. Snacks/hunger
2. Arguing with siblings over space
3. Who sits where
4. Choosing what music or radio station to listen to
5. Windows up or down
6. Forgotten items
7. Arguing over where to sit
8. Asking ‘are we nearly there yet?’
9. Arguing over toys
10. Traffic
