Survey reveals car trip memories that could soon be lost to history
Parents arguing over map directions, playing 'I Spy' on long trips and using a wire coat hanger as a replacement aerial appear to be part of a bygone age of motoring according to a new survey.Research commissioned by BBC Studios to mark?the 30th series of iconic motoring entertainment show, Top Gear, surveyed 2,000 Brits to look into family car travel over the last 40 years. The results reveal a seismic shift between generations and identified the in-car travel experiences that could soon be consigned to the history books.
Tuning in the car stereo, picking up hitchhikers and the ever-annoying cries of 'are we there yet?’ from bored children are listed among the car trip experiences that younger generations are unlikely to encounter. Thanks to advanced car technology, improved car safety, new personal electronics and general social changes, car rides and road trips hold very different memories for people over 40 than they do for the kids of today.
The top ten family car travel experiences which have been lost to history
- The unfurling of maps and arguments between parents over directions
- One CD or tape in the car that you had to listen to every single time you went on a drive
- Pre-planning routes
- Using a coat hanger as a radio aerial
- Using the cigarette lighter for its original intended purpose
- Endless tuning to get a radio signal
- Classic in-car games such as ‘I Spy’
- Picking up hitchhikers
- The rallying cry of ’are we there yet?’
- His and hers windscreen stickers (sunscreen strips)
The survey also revealed that for the vast majority of adults (68%), the countless hours spent on car trips and travel as a kid are cherished family memories that they still hold on to today.
The research also found that over half of us find it easier to have deep and meaningful conversations with family in the car. With 53% of respondents recalling memorable heart-to-hearts with mum on the road, while 47% delved into deeper in-car conversations with dad.
When it comes to modern car trips, 59% of people surveyed say sat-nav is the number one piece of modern tech they could not live without followed by a high-tech infotainment system (12%) and sophisticated vehicle security features (8%).
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