Top 10 causes of family ‘carguments’ revealed including snacks and where to sit

A poll of 2,000 drivers with children under 17 found 69 per cent have argued with their kids while travelling by car, with causes ranging from what music to listen to, to having the windows up or down

View 3 Images

The biggest family 'carguments' have been revealed - including children losing it over snacks and choosing where to sit.

A poll of 2,000 drivers with children younger than 17 found 69 per cent have argued with their offspring while travelling by car, with being hungry (34 per cent) the biggest cause of disagreements among those who have done so – ahead of the age-old ‘are we nearly there yet?’ conversation (26 per cent).

Although, it emerged kids only need to ask this question three times before parents start feeling annoyed.

While the study commissioned by Vauxhall, following the launch of its new Frontera family SUV, found 14 per cent have fallen out over poor phone or internet signal.

View 3 Images

As a result of such issues, 55 per cent are reluctant to take their family on a road trip.

For 47 per cent going on a long drive with children is more stressful than going abroad with them.

The research comes as 64 per cent of mums and dads are preparing to go on an extended car journey with their children during October half-term.

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."

View 3 Images

The study also found kids getting bored (50 per cent), sibling arguments (37 per cent), and keeping them entertained (35 per cent) provide the biggest challenges for a long drive.

And to combat this 71 per cent prepare snacks and drinks to prevent the challenges before they kick off – while 22 per cent stick to travelling during nap times.

More than half (52 per cent) said lots of room in the back of the car would make journeys with children much easier – whereas 45 per cent highlighted music streaming via Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as the real difference maker.

The study, conducted via Market research and PR surveys - OnePoll: Inspiring Human Insights , found 52 per cent of parents have threatened to turn the car around because their children weren’t behaving – and 34 per cent have followed up on that threat.

When looking for a new family car 74 per cent said comfort is their top priority – but 57 per cent 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