7:59 am, December 10, 2008
FESTIVE motoring’s most stressful chore is the drive home for Christmas, says a survey of car buyers.
Motors.co.uk found that 3 quarters of car buyers polled said that motoring madness is the biggest cause of festive misery.
83 per cent will use the car to visit friends and family. Up to 70 per cent will spend more than 5 hours in the car.
Journeys of up to 400 miles will be made, mainly on motorways. Respondents dubbed these the ‘roads to hell’.
Katie Armitage, marketing manager for motors.co.uk, said: ‘It is no surprise that motorists find driving stressful over the Christmas season, with the combination of bad weather, heavy traffic – and being stuck with the family in a confined space for long periods of time.’
Indeed, family feuds were the cause of friction in a half of all cases. Getting lost or running late affected over a third of motorists. And a quarter were aggravated by the thought of staying with the in-laws.
The survey found that motorists use music to keep sane. 82 per cent listen to music, and over a quarter sing Christmas songs to keep boredom at bay.
Which, of course, gave motors the opportunity to release a top-5 list of festive songs…
1. All I want for Christmas – Mariah Carey
2. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues
3. Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade
4. Driving Home for Christmas – Chris Rea
5. Do they know its Christmas Time – Band Aid
