Children think dad is a better driver than mum – but believe he goes too fast and suffers the most road rage.

Children think dad is a better driver than mum – but believe he goes too fast and suffers the most road rage.

A study of 1,000 6-16 year-olds whose parents both drive found 43 per cent named dad as the ‘best’ behind the wheel, while only 29 per cent opted for mum.

Reasons for choosing him as the best driver include the fact he drives for his job, has a van and is the designated holiday driver for the family.

But almost two thirds claim their dad drives the fastest while 42 per cent think he experiences the most road rage.

Despite this, 35 per cent of youngsters prefer being in the car with their mum, naming her as the parent most likely to join in with car games, such as I Spy, while on a journey.

Tiffany Wilcox, from MG, which commissioned the research to celebrate the family friendly model range, said: “The results paint an interesting picture of family car journeys and how kids see their parents.

“Everyone remembers family road trips from when they were younger, the discussions which are had, games that are played and music choices.

“It’s amusing to have an insight into children’s views of their parents’ driving habits and clearly the results show dad wins when it comes to driving but mum is more fun to be with in the car.

“Families don’t have to compromise on practicality and style with our family model range and the built-in technology will help keep the kids entertained on both long and short journeys.”

The research also found dads win at all driving techniques, including being best at both reverse and parallel parking, hill starts and three-point turns.

Children also think their dad is more successful than mum at switching lanes on a motorway and parking in tight spaces.

And two thirds said their old man is better at changing a tyre compared to just eight per cent who favoured their mother.

It also emerged men are more likely to take the driving seat for family car journeys, according to 65 per cent of the youngsters polled.

But this may be because half of the respondents said their mum is more susceptible to getting lost and having to ask for directions.

Unfortunately for women, 46 per cent of children also said their mum is most likely to bump the vehicle on a kerb or another car, compared to just a sixth who believe their dad would do this.

Mums play the best music though, according to 40 per cent of children, while only 31 per cent prefer dad’s tunes.

Although, 63 per cent of youngsters admitted to preferring to listen to their own playlists in the car to avoid hearing their parents’ choice.

Dads were found to be most strict when driving, with the top in-car rules including no arguing (36 per cent), no wrappers or rubbish to be left in the vehicle (48 per cent) and no shoes on the seats (41 per cent).

On the other hand, mums were typically found to be more talkative while in the driving seat.

The study, carried out via OnePoll, also revealed 31 per cent of kids prefer being in dad’s car with half of them stating this is because it’s bigger, while 27 per cent put it down to the fact it has more technology, such as Apple Car Play.

A quarter favour their mum’s vehicle due to it being a nicer colour (26 per cent), having comfier seats (49 per cent) and because the roof comes off (12 per cent).

Tiffany Wilcox, from MG, added: “It’s interesting to see how family dynamics play out while on the road, especially through the eyes of children.

“Our range of family SUVs aim to make journeys with the kids easier, thanks to the top tech available in each model.

“With a 7-year warranty across the range, and NCAP 5 star Safety Rating awarded to numerous models (MG HS & MG ZS EV), our cars are family-friendly, reliable and exceptional value for money.”

Find out more about what kids really think about their parent’s driving at https://mg.co.uk/suv/behind-the-wheel/travel/mum-vs-dad

Mum vs Dad
1. Fastest driver – dad
2. Most road rage – dad
3. Most likely to get lost – mum
4. Most likely to bump the car – mum
5. Best at parallel parking – dad
6. Best at reverse parking – dad
7. Best at parking in a tight car park space – dad
8. Best at switching lanes on a motorway – dad
9. Best at hill starts – dad
10. Best at doing a three-point turn – dad
11. Best at changing a tyre – dad

ENDS