A survey commissioned by Renault Australia has revealed that 83 per cent of Australian drivers find driving to work more stressful than being at work. This statistic rises to 90 per cent for those who commute more than one hour each day.
The Renault Latitude stress survey1 asked Australian drivers what elements outside and inside the car influenced their stress levels when driving.
“As expected the survey found the key causes of stress are traffic jams and gridlock (80%), drivers not indicating (73%) and parking in crowded car parks (53%). Other stressors included road noise (27%) and pedestrians and children around the car (34%),” said Chris Brown, Renault Marketing Director
“However, interestingly 71 per cent of Australian drivers indicated that their stress levels can also be influenced by factors within the car.”
25 per cent of drivers say that the lack of interior space added to stress, 38 per cent of drivers say that sitting in an uncomfortable seat for long periods of time is stressful and 35 per cent agreed that pollution and bad odours filtering into the car contributed to stress levels.
According to the survey the key alleviators of stress inside a car included more space (16%), leather seats with massage capabilities (25%), an air management system with filters (24%), and a top quality audio system (25%).
To further test these findings, Renault conducted an experiment with three ordinary Australian families to see if the Latitude can help alleviate the stresses associated with driving.
The Latitude Stress Test used facial recognition software to determine the levels of stress the families experienced, via changes to their expressions, whilst driving their own car versus driving the Renault Latitude.
“The goal of the experiment was to put Latitude to the test to see how its features could make your drive more relaxing. It had the desired effect, with the families clearly more at ease in the Renault Latitude.” said Chris Brown.
To find out the results and watch the Latitude Stress Test visit http://www.stresstestdrive.com.au/
1 A nationally representative survey of 852 drivers in Australian capital cities.
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We in the States are equally stressed at our commutes…and I know some folks who actually drive over an hour one way. Lots of “windshield” time. Then again, no two commutes are created equally. My wife takes a half-hour to go eight miles…
Its a shame but we all do it sometimes. I took to my bike yesterday in peak hour. It sure felt good with no holdups. I saw none of the cars again during the journey. I was home and they were still sitting in the traffic jam.
I can’t imagine having a one-hour commute to work. That would stress anybody out, regardless of car!
I remember coming home across the harbour bridge one night and it took 50 minutes just to get across the old coat hanger! Sydney and Brisbane traffic has been allowed to get worse by 40 years of bad planning.
I’ve only ever had to use heated seats once and that was in one of the convertibles we had a few months ago. It was just going in to winter and with the top down it was breezy. But very soon it will be too hot to have the tops down as spring is next week and summer will be at the usual hot steamy 38c days. Thank god for A/C! You’d like the massage function though but not on a really long trip or you’ll nod off.
Im a sucker for heat. Been known to use it even in summer just because it feels good on the muscles. as to the the massager? The best car massager is someone sitting in the back seat, their hands on my neck and shoulders. But then theres the little problem of staying in my lane from the pleasure.
I dont know what I would do without my heated seats. Havent yet had the pleasure of owning one with a massager in it yet.