Top causes for car journey arguments revealed

Motorists up and down the country will be taking to the roads this bank holiday weekend as they make the most of the precious day off, and the expected traffic mayhem will provide the perfect catalyst for in-car arguments.

Ahead of the upcoming extended weekend, 'getting lost' has been named as the main cause of arguments on car journeys. A third of UK respondents to a recent online survey (33%) cited this as the biggest cause of bust-ups with fellow passengers while on the road.

The survey, conducted by audio and infotainment specialist Harman, shows that bad driving habits such as sharp braking and speeding is the second biggest cause (22%), while the length of the journey was third (13%), closely followed by music choice (12%) as the fourth greatest cause of bickering while behind the wheel.

Too much noise (9%), the driver refusing to ask for directions (6%), and too many rest and toilet breaks (4%) make up the rest of the list.

Drivers can avoid a mid-drive squabble by planning ahead beforehand, checking the quickest route and looking for any major traffic hotspots that could cause delays.

Picking your break destinations is also recommended so everyone knows when and how many times you'll be stopping. Preparing entertainment and packing snacks should also keep the peace.

"These results show just how stressful car journeys can be," said Matt Fisch, VP Global Engineering Audio SBU, Lifestyle Audio Division from Harman.

"However, many of the argument inciters identified in the poll can be helped with the latest in-car technology, driver aids and a good infotainment system.

"State-of-the-art satellite navigation systems can help motorists find their destination and reach it quickly and more efficiently with the incorporation of real-time traffic updates.

"Clever driver aids can help improve some bad driving habits, while the length of journey is all about perception. If the journey is made enjoyable through the right in-car systems then the perceived length of the journey is much shorter. The benefits of these infotainment systems are only going to improve as our lives and cars become more connected."