Road Tripping: Why Some People Prefer Road Trips Over Flying
Road trips can be fun to plan. Finding amazing places, taking interesting detours, and creating memories. A recent poll of 2,000 drivers commissioned by Michelin for Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, and conducted by OnePoll found that many feel that the open road is the best way to embark on an adventure.
The survey found that nearly three-quarters of Americans prefer driving to their vacation destination over flying. Only 22% of respondents will opt to fly rather than drive when going on a trip. The study found that almost half of those who’ve ever gone on a road trip (43%) rank themselves as experienced, and a fifth (21%) go so far as to label themselves as an expert-level road tripper.
What makes driving the most popular option?
Long-time road trippers reported that the best things about road trips include seeing new landscapes (50%), listening to music (43%), getting a break from their routine (26%), and enjoying the feeling of driving (25%).
They also found that 45% prefer to assume driving responsibilities for the trip, 22% prefer to have another person drive, and 28% enjoy splitting the driving role with someone else.
What are some of the biggest concerns when on a road trip?
The biggest concerns for people while on a road trip or long drive include having a safe and reliable car (35%), traffic (32%), staying alert and awake (28%), and being aware of dangerous drivers (27%).
Also, highlighted in the survey are the little annoyances you encounter when you’re on a road trip. For those who have taken a road trip or long drive in the last five years, respondents ranked losing cell service (36%), needing to make frequent bathroom stops (35%), and passengers asking, “Are we there yet?” (27%) as their biggest pet peeves.
About 37% of roadtrippers have experienced what they’d call a road trip nightmare. Some of those surveyed mentioned stories of flat tires, broken down cars, brakes giving out, accidents, blizzards, rock slides, icy roads, and other hindrances.
Some people like to use certain hacks to stay alert and awake while on the road. The most common hacks people use to stay alert and awake on long drives and road trips include listening to music, audiobooks, and podcasts (57%), talking to someone else in the car (57%), and drinking coffee or energy drinks (52%).
More than three in five (68%) will also have a check-in schedule while on a long drive or road trip to let friends or family know they’re safe. About 22% of those will check in halfway through the drive and 20% will send a check-in text or call every two hours.
Check out the complete study here.
