It’s game on to help survive those long car journeys
Phones and tablets are used by 93% of five to 18-year-olds to keep them occupied during long car journeys. - Credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images
Nine out of 10 (93%) five to 18-year-olds occupy themselves with a phone or tablet during long car journeys, according to a Vauxhall-commissioned survey called Are we nearly there yet?
However, traditional car games – such as I-Spy, car snooker and waving at other drivers – are not completely out the window.
It seems the survival of the traditional car game has lasted the test of time despite the introduction of new technologies, with 87% of parents encouraging children to play games not involving technology.
With families planning summer outings, the survey uncovered the most off-putting niggles that long car journeys with children undoubtedly bring. More than half of respondents (52%) loathed siblings fighting in the back of the car and nearly half (45%) disliked the constant requests of “Are we nearly yet?”
Other deterrents including multiple requests to stop for the toilet (39%), a third (33%) worried about car sickness and more than a fifth (22%) found constant demands for music insufferable.
However, there are tools and techniques for surviving long car journeys with children. The most popular after phones or tablets were portable DVD players (27%) followed by snacks (22%), music (19%), games (15%), talking books (8%) and toys (7%).
More than two-fifths (43%) of those with children have driven to Europe with children. On average the furthest motorists drive with a child under a year old is four hours, for those aged 12 to 18 the average is six hours.
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The survey’s top 10 games were:
1 I-Spy.
2 ‘Next one to see’.
3 How many car brands spotted in a minute.
4 Waving at other drivers.
5 Registration plate alphabet.
6 Car snooker.
7 Times-table tests.
8 Playing cards.
9 Number plate cricket.
10 Eddie Stobart truck bingo.
Vauxhall and I is a celebration of people’s relationships with their cars and memorable journeys. People can share stories through www.vauxhallandi.co.uk. It tells stories of Vauxhall cars in the words of real people who have loved and driven them.
