Traffic tops on stress related road trip nightmares

As millions of Americans prepare to hit the road for Thanksgiving holiday travel, a new survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Chevrolet reveals that Traffic and other unexpected delays is by far the most stressful part of the family road trip, according to nearly two in three parents. Keeping the kids entertained and hearing the ever-present “Are we there yet?” ranked lower than traffic, packing and cost, when it comes to the top family road trip stressors. The Harris Poll surveyed 1,063 U.S. parents of children under 18 to explore the state of the American family road trip.

As traffic levels are projected to increase during the upcoming Thanksgiving travel week, parents indicated that in-vehicle technologies can improve the family road trip experience by making gridlock more bearable. Technology offered in vehicles such as the all-new Chevrolet Traverse can give parents added peace and quiet on the road. More than half of American parents (56 percent) said that Wi-Fi/internet connectivity would help make family road trips more enjoyable, making it the top in-vehicle tech on their wish list for family road trips.

The survey also revealed that, despite stressful or unexpected moments, the spirit of the American family road trip remains alive and well. The vast majority of American parents (93 percent) say they enjoy road trips with their family, with more than half (53 percent) saying they “love” them.

Spending time with family ranked top reason for America’s love affair with family road followed by exploring and stopping at interesting locations/destinations.