Our busy schedules often cause life to become a little stressful, especially when you're driving home from work in rush hour traffic desperate to get the kettle on. Therefore, it seems quite surprising that a new study from Vauxhall has shown that our cars are the number one place that we'd turn to for sanctuary.
We all want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday living and while most people search online internet sites for a last minute holiday on a beach somewhere, some of us enjoy the personal confinements of our cars.
The latest study carried out by Vauxhall Tigra has suggested that while we use our vehicles for a more practical service, we also enjoy taking quality time out with them. In other words, sitting in your car has become the new therapy session for millions of motorists who want some time to think and clear their minds.
According to the study, a whopping 85% of us said that spending time in our cars is the ultimate "me time" and that there's no other place we'd rather be for some privacy. So, if your feeling a little stressed searching through all those cheap car insurance websites and you've finally come across one that gives you the best premium ever, why not relieve some tension with a relaxing ride in your car?
But it's not just about having time to yourself, whether you drive a Corsa, Vectra or Astra, your car is apparently the most popular location for divulging a secret. A total 20% of the survey, no doubt mostly woman car insurance customers, said that they just simply love gossiping with their passengers, safe in the knowledge that nobody else will be able to eavesdrop on their conversation.
And we don't just stop at gossiping with our friends in our Tigras, according to Vauxhall, we also spend hours in our cars having quality time with those closest to us. Perhaps your friend's just lost her job or your mum's just found out she's been paying far too much on her women's car insurance, the best place to have a good old-fashioned chit chat is in your car.
However, on a more serious note, the next time you partner suggests taking you out on a drive for a "talk", be aware, 15% of Brits said that their cars are the ideal place to have a heart to heart with someone - probably because their angry partner would be less likely to go wild with rage at 70mph!
Commenting on the latest findings from Vauxhall, relationship expert Tracey Cox said: "It doesn't surprise me at all that people feel safe in their cars to talk about personal issues. We tend to choose a car which reflects our personalities, so feel very much at home in them, which automatically makes us feel more confident.
"There's also less eye contact because one of you has to be looking at the road! If you're a shy person and feel intimidated looking at someone when you've got something important to say, what better time to confide than when you or they are driving? It's also where people have a chance to think through their day - you have precious pockets of time to yourself while cruising - for lots of people that's the only time they get alone."
Despite all the savings to be made on Vauxhall car insurance, some of us just can't afford to pay for expensive theory sessions. So, the next time you're feeling the need for a little me time or you want to get something off your chest, buckle up, put on a relaxing CD and hit the road for one of the most relaxing drives of your life.