Revealed: The most common arguments on long car journeys

UK holidays are more popular than ever, with a staggering three-quarters of Brits (74%) opting to holiday in the UK and taking to the roads for their staycations. However, long car journeys can often bring out the best and the worst in us.

Spending a long time in a confined space can spark tensions and lead to unexpected arguments. With millions of us set to take to the roads during the holiday season - visiting friends, family and new destinations - it got us thinking. How stressful can a road trip be?

84% of drivers experience some form of stress behind the wheel and long car journeys lead to the biggest cause of stress

On average, we spend more than seven hours in the car with our loved ones during road trips, so it’s little surprise that 84% of people admit to feeling stressed behind the wheel, according to a report by Brake.

Another study discovered that long car journeys cause a stress response and that many hours on the road lead to more stress. Stress in particular, whether it be from road rage or other external factors, can lead to an increase in arguments.

Dr Carolyne Keenan, Registered Psychologist, says: “The main cause of arguments on long car trips often boils down to stress. Extended periods in a confined space, combined with fatigue, boredom, and a lack of personal space, can easily lead to irritability.

“Being confined to a small space for a long time can make people feel physically uncomfortable or cramped. Passengers may feel a sense of helplessness or a lack of control over the journey. The driver may feel the pressure of responsibility or stress about navigation, traffic, or time constraints.

Also, “long journeys require sustained focus, particularly for the driver, and managing distractions like music choices, conversations, and even traffic can overwhelm cognitive resources.”

But what is it that we do disagree on during a long car journey?

‘Stopping’ during the journey is the biggest cause of misery during a road trip

We conducted a social listening analysis of social media threads to understand what the most common causes of arguments are for long car journeys.

Almost a quarter (23%) stated that stopping on a long car journey was the biggest source of tension. This included, of course, toilet breaks, choosing where and when to stop for food and the duration of the stops.

Harrison Walsh, Head of Procurement, at Family Car Deals said: “While we understand stopping during long journeys can be frustrating, particularly if you are intending to arrive somewhere at a specific time, we do recommend planning a stop every two hours. We would suggest a break of, at least, 15 minutes to get out of the car, stretch your legs, use the toilet and get a refreshment, especially if you are travelling with children.

“Be on the lookout for any signs that you are struggling with the journey, such as the ‘head nod’ or yawning and pull over as soon as safely possible.”

Departure time clinched the second spot, just narrowly being pipped to the post by food stops. This included time to wake up for the journey, how early to leave and, of course, leaving on time. According to 13% of respondents, these arguments started before they had even got into the car for the trip.

Interestingly, comments on driving - such as tips on how to drive, directions and other people in the car complaining - took third place, with 12% stating it caused the biggest argument on a journey.

But did you know that arguments in the car could lead to more than family divisions…?

You could be fined up to £1,000 for arguing in the car during long journeys

If you argue with your passengers during long journeys such as travelling to a holiday destination or even visiting friends over Christmas, arguing puts you at risk of breaking Rule 148 of the Highway Code.

Engaging in arguments - particularly ones that involve the driver - could result in impaired ability to concentrate on the roads, resulting in a fine of up to three penalty points and a £1,000 fine.

Other factors that fall under Rule 148 include listening to loud music, trying to read maps, eating and drinking and starting or adjusting any music or radio.

Interestingly, we also discovered that men travel, on average, 176,478 miles for holidays and day trips, with women doing slightly less at 173,584 over the same period. Could who is driving cause arguments?

Dr Carolyne Keenan goes on to say, “If one person tends to be the one doing the driving on long journeys then they probably end up feeling overburdened and fatigued which is likely to lead to them being more irritable and snappy.”

The average UK road trip spans 494 miles and lasts LONGER than seven hours

It's no surprise that car journeys often lead to arguments, especially with the rise in staycations, which means we're spending more time on the road than ever before. To uncover just how long these journeys are, we analysed data from the Department for Transport on the number of trips and miles travelled from 2002 to 2023 to reveal exactly what our road trips look like.

The average UK road trip spans a staggering 494 miles (both there and back); six miles longer than the distance from London to Dundee.

To put that into time, that’s around seven hours in the car - not including those all-important service stops and toilet breaks.

In the last year alone (2023), the average holiday road trip or day trip spanned 543 miles showing our love for exploring the UK.

The regions taking the longest car journeys

Residents in the South West need to exercise extra caution on the roads at the weekend, with the region taking the highest number of long car journeys.

Analysing 20 years of data, residents in the South West took over 65,000 road trips or day trips, spending more time in the car than any other region. Following a close second are South East residents, with more than 61,000 trips over the same period.

Londoners, however, are the least likely to travel for their holiday or day trips. London’s residents took just 41,000 trips, the lowest of all UK regions. However, this could be due to the number of attractions in the capital and other UK residents travelling to London for their holidays.

If you do feel like long car journeys cause disagreements with your family, we are sharing tips on how you can enjoy a stress-free trip.

Experts urge you to be cautious on the road on THIS day and time if travelling long distances

We analysed 20 years of UK data to reveal that Saturday is the most popular day for starting road trips or long car journeys.

Saturday is, overwhelmingly, the most popular day on the roads, with over 880,000 thousand trips starting on that day. Following a close second is Sunday, with more than 826,000 thousand hitting the roads for long journeys on this day. But, did you know what time we are most likely to hit the road?

10 am is the busiest time for holiday or day trips to start, meaning drivers should take extra precautions when hitting the roads at this time.

However, the second most common time might raise some eyebrows… 7 pm is the second most popular time to be on the roads for holidays and day trips, again, just after rush hour so it could be that UK drivers are actively searching for times that are less busy to start their long car journey (and reduce the tension in the car).

5 EXPERT tips for avoiding arguments on long journeys

We have collaborated with Dr Carolyne Keenan, a Registered Psychologist, to reveal some of the ways you can stop an argument before even getting into the car.

1. Plan out your breaks before starting the journey

If you are driving with people who regularly like to stop or, if it is a long journey where you are required to take a break, try to do so before starting your journey. This way, everyone knows when and where to expect a stop, meaning they can even decide on what food they might like to eat during the stop.

Carolyne goes on to say: “These breaks allow everyone to reset, reduce tension, and give a needed break from the confines of the car.”

2. Don’t take on everything yourself

Being the only one responsible for the schedule is a sure-fire way to cause tension. If something goes wrong or the schedule changes, it will fall on you to share this with your passengers which can distract you from driving.

Carolyne suggests that “passengers can take charge of navigation, manage playlists, or handle any snacks or drinks. Sharing these tasks can reduce pressure and make everyone feel more in control.”

3. Agree on the time before setting off and set a little buffer for late passengers

One of the most common causes of arguments during a road trip is departure time. Instead of setting an hour when you are aiming to set off, set an actual time of departure and, if you are travelling with people who tend to err on the later side, set that a little earlier so you can leave when you are hoping to.

4. Set expectations on music and even break timings

If you are aiming to reach your destination by a particular time, set expectations on the number of breaks and the time you have available for stops. You could even do this for the kind of music playing in the car.

Carolyne says: “Open communication and setting clear expectations in advance can help avoid misunderstandings during the trip.”

5. Keep your passengers busy so you don’t have to

This is an excellent one for travelling with children or young adults, remember to try and keep them entertained. That could be with games, books, screens or even stops along the way to stretch their legs. It will certainly make the drive much more enjoyable for you.

The top five best family cars

Being in a confined space for any amount of time can lead to tension. But, we have something in mind. Introducing our best family cars with ample space and features to minimise the tension when driving.

Toyota Rav4

The Toyota Rav4 is reliable, practical and comfortable. Not to mention, it has enough room for you and your kids, along with the ability to recline the back seats comfortably. The boot makes this a perfect family car for day trips, with a flat-loading floor so you can stack everything from pushchairs to suitcases.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V offers ample storage with USB connectivity for charging, so keeping your passengers entertained shouldn't be an issue. This car also has wide-opening doors for getting all the family in, along with big, comfortable seating - ideal for a long journey.

Cupra Formentor

The Cupra Formentor is a sleek, stylish family car, with drive modes including sport and comfort for those long journeys. But, it’s also got ample cabin space for your passengers and room in the boot for five carry cases. However, if you need more space, the back seats fold quickly to store even more luggage.

Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer is extremely popular and for good reason. The car boasts a practical, square-shaped boot for enough storage for road trips. Likewise, the flat floor in the back means there is plenty of space for passengers. And, for those that travel with their caravans, this vehicle is available with a towbar to do just that.

Renault Scenic E-Tech

The Renault Scenic is roomy, even for the tallest passengers. The boot is also the same, with space to fit four suitcases, along with underfloor boot storage for charging cables. It has a 260-379 mile range, as well as a digital rear-view and surround-view camera to make parking at services and your destination a breeze.

Methodology:

Family Car Deals conducted a social listening analysis of social media threads - with over 200 responses - to understand what the most common causes of arguments are for long car journeys.

We then analysed 20 years' worth of data from the Department for Transport on:

• The number of trips and miles travelled on holiday and day trips
• The start time for the trips
• The most common month for the trips
• The regions travelling the longest distances
• Number of trips and miles travelled by gender