We might not have the ability to get out a lot in the intervening time, however our enduring love affair with vehicles is stronger than ever, based on a brand new report.
Greater than eight in 10 motorists (83 per cent) admitted they’ve all the time had a love for driving and greater than a 3rd (34 per cent) reckon that love has “grown with age”.
The ballot of two,000 UK automotive homeowners additionally revealed that our motors have turn out to be a refuge from work, a meditation area – and a music studio.
Nevertheless it’s unhealthy information for passengers and back-seat drivers – as individuals choose to be on their very own on the wheel fairly than having firm (44 per cent in comparison with 19 per cent).
It additionally emerged that though individuals aren’t capable of drive as a lot in the intervening time, half of respondents have beforehand used automotive journeys to flee from on a regular basis life. And 1 / 4 benefit from the quiet time it provides them.
The examine, commissioned by Volkswagen Monetary Companies UK, additionally discovered a couple of in 10 like that they will’t be interrupted whereas driving and 15 per cent use it to unwind.
In consequence, one in 5 lengthy for extra time behind the wheel because it provides them the chance to sing out loud with out the embarrassment of being overheard.
Greater than half (56 per cent) even contemplate alone time within the automotive to be simply pretty much as good as some high quality me-time.
“Persons are trying ahead to getting again out on the highway once more once they can, and having fun with a few of these issues that we’ve missed about spending time within the automotive,” mentioned Dan James of Volkswagen Monetary Companies UK.
“For lots of people, the love of driving nonetheless exists. There are those that have discovered to find it irresistible, and people who have all the time had a love for it.
“It’s one of many only a few locations we will take a while out from our busy on a regular basis lives, discover some simplicity in a posh world, chill out and clear our minds, and simply give attention to the highway forward.
“For a lot of this has turn out to be extra obvious just lately as they not have the journey to and from work, lacking out on that beneficial time to unwind after leaving the workplace earlier than they get house to household life.”
The examine additionally discovered 52 per cent of adults usually love driving, and 71 per cent of these can’t ever see themselves falling out of affection with it.
One other three in 10 see it as a ardour fairly than a necessity, with greater than half beginning to miss driving in the event that they haven’t been capable of get behind the wheel for a very long time.
However lockdown has seen the time spent within the automotive drop by nearly half – going from almost four-and-a-half hours every week pre-Covid to simply two hours and 48 minutes now.
In consequence, 26 per cent have missed with the ability to journey someplace new, 25 per cent the sense of freedom and 19 per cent merely having the time to themselves.
Regardless of the general love of driving, the examine revealed visitors jams are the highest bugbear, adopted by potholes, driving at the hours of darkness and getting misplaced.
