Driving too fast causes most in-car arguments, study finds
(July 19, 2011) Driving too fast is the biggest cause of arguments between partners on car trips, according to research by the online used car channel, Tesco Cars in the UK.
In a survey conducted by the website, speeding (22%) was a bigger source of in-car spats than getting directions wrong (18%), tailgating (13%) and parking prowess (5%).
Men and women alike admitted kicking up a fuss about their partners breaking the speed limit. Twenty one percent of female drivers cited it as the most likely thing to trigger a fight, compared with one in four men.
Only 3.9% of couples reported arguments being sparked by rowdy children in the back seats, while just over 1 in 10 complained about their partner being too aggressive behind the wheel.
| Reasons for ‘carguments’ | % |
| Driving too fast | 22.72% |
| Getting the directions wrong | 18.01% |
| None of the above | 15.86% |
| Driving too close to the car in front | 13.31% |
| Being too aggressive | 11.83% |
| Parking | 5.11% |
| Choice of music of radio station | 4.70% |
| Driving too slow | 4.57% |
| Children fighting in the back | 3.90% |
Rebecca Ryan, Marketing Manager of Tesco Cars said: “Most couples will have argued about something in the car at one time or another. Given the potentially serious consequences of speeding, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that it is the chief cause of fights.”
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