Advertisement

Getting lost is biggest cause of car arguments despite sat navs, says AA survey

100 people decided to either split up or file for divorce after an argument while driving. - Andrew Crowley
100 people decided to either split up or file for divorce after an argument while driving. - Andrew Crowley

Getting lost is the biggest cause of car arguments despite the rise of sat nav, an AA survey has found.

More than half of the 17,000 drivers admitted to fighting when either they were driving or somebody else was at the wheel.

While 56 per cent admitted to arguing while in the car, a third said that they argued most about getting lost.

This is despite the revolution in car navigation systems, with sat-navs and smartphones designed to cut down the hours spent pouring over a road map.

Backseat driving also took a toll on drivers, with almost 30 per cent saying it contributed to a row while travelling.

Edmund King, AA Charitable Trust president, said: “Some people claim today, known as ‘Blue Monday’, is the bleakest day of the year. Don’t let it get to you and affect your mood when driving.

“Arguing with someone in a confined space is not a pleasant for anyone. When that space is a car and the argument is about how it’s being driven or why you are lost, tensions can rise even faster.

“If you often argue about the same things, such as navigation, then try to plan ahead to mitigate the disagreement – planning your route properly or using a sat nav can help take the pressure off for everyone.

“If an argument gets out of hand it can be dangerous for the driver.  The best thing to do is pull over when it is safe to do so and wait until things have calmed down before driving again.”

After a blazing row in the car, over two thirds of those surveyed said that they carried on the journey in silence.

Others took more drastic measures, with almost 5 per cent turning the car around, and more worryingly, 100 people deciding to either split up or file for divorce after an argument while driving.