A poll of 2,000 motorists found car troubles cause Brits to miss holidays, job interviews and even weddings
A survey of 2,000 drivers revealed that 61% have experienced their arrangements being derailed due to vehicle troubles, with one in twenty completely missing a beloved relative’s nuptials.
Others have been forced to abandon holidays (5%), missed flights (4%) and skipped job interviews (4%). Family get-togethers (11%), excursions (8%) and medical appointments (6%) also feature amongst the occasions that have been entirely missed due to automotive difficulties.
Flat tyres or punctures (52%), battery breakdowns (39%), and engine warning lights (28%) represent the most common faults to cause chaos with travel arrangements.
The research also revealed that summer is regarded as the most problematic period to encounter vehicle breakdowns, with 30% admitting it’s the season when they have the most arrangements dependent on their motor.
The research was commissioned by Vixa – a car health assistant from The AA – which has partnered with UK garage talent and So Solid Crew Member Lisa Maffia as part of their Garage Bangers campaign, to create a nostalgic summer track ‘Keep it Rollin’ in a car garage. It features real engine sounds and beats, aiming to raise awareness of how summer car troubles can ruin plans.
Matt Barker from the brand, said: “With summer upon us, many of us depend on our cars to enjoy holidays, share day trips or head to important events. Sometimes problems seem to come out of nowhere – leading to disappointment and frustration from drivers and passengers alike.
“Use of a car health assistant and regular maintenance checks can help you to stay on top of things and alert you to potential issues. There are some simple checks we can do to ensure our car is in the best possible shape. And hopefully the lyrics to this track will help people to remember what to do.”
The study also found that a quarter of motorists have declined an invitation or travel arrangement purely because they lacked confidence in their vehicle’s reliability for the trip.
Among those who experienced automotive troubles, 20% attributed it to attempting to ‘make do’ with ageing vehicles. However, 18% confessed they possess insufficient knowledge regarding car upkeep – and frequently disregard unusual sounds emanating from their vehicle, which consequently leads to disrupted plans.
Regarding the warmer months particularly, over one in 10 encountered overheated engines, whilst nine per cent acknowledged experiencing complete tyre failures.
These incidents collectively left nearly half feeling frustrated (49%) and stressed (46%). One in seven (14%) were left feeling embarrassed – with an identical proportion experiencing guilt over disappointing others, according to the OnePoll.com findings.
Despite 40% attempting to monitor their vehicle’s condition – they occasionally overlook certain aspects. The survey reveals that 30% of people would choose to visit a garage for minor car issues, while a quarter (26%) would attempt to fix the problem themselves.
Matt Barker from Vixa commented: “From missed holidays to disrupted weddings, summer car trouble can throw a real spanner in the works.
“Garage Bangers brings that message to life in a fun and relatable way. It’s all about helping people enjoy the moments that matter – and making sure car trouble doesn’t get in the way.”
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