The biggest decisions of our life are made in the front seat of a car

Moving house? Changing jobs? Getting married? Conversations like this used to be had around the kitchen table. Now some of our biggest life-changing decisions are being made in the car, according to research released today. And the peace, quiet and lack of distractions that a car offers, seem to create the ideal environment for these significant conversations.

The survey by Kia Motors found that 43% of Brits have talked about moving house during car journeys, and the same number has discussed changing jobs. Nearly a quarter of respondents (23%) have broached the subject of getting married, while one in eight (12%) went one step further and considered trying for a baby - once they had got home of course!

Other life decisions discussed in the car includes

Going on holidays (64%)

Buying a new car (48%)

Decorating (41%)

Making changes to your love life (25%)

Getting a pet (24%)

Getting divorced (7%)

But why are Brits tackling such life-changing decisions on car journeys? Just under two thirds (62%) of those who had had these sorts of discussions said that long car journeys offer plenty of time to talk to one another. Interestingly more than a third liked the fact that either party couldn't walk away from the conversation (38%). Twenty eight per cent thought the enclosed space encouraged intimacy, yet one in five felt it was less confrontational than face-to-face (21%). Twenty three percent said that they benefited from having no distractions

Renowned life coach, Gladeana McMahon, can understand why couples are taking refuge in the front seat of the car to broach these tough life decisions. "People simply don't have the time in their busy lives to give these important conversations the space and attention they need. So they need to grab the opportunities they have, which is why long car journeys or hours stuck in traffic jams can be the perfect place to talk about such important issues. It may not feel very romantic but it's more important to give each other the time to talk - and to listen."

But what happens when the discussion gets heated? More than two in five Brits who have argued whilst making life-changing decisions in the car will change the subject (44%) or stop the conversation and pick it up at a different time (36%). Seventeen per cent would put on some music or the radio and one in ten (10%) would park the car before continuing the discussion.

Stephen Kitson, Communications Director for Kia Motors (UK), encourages drivers to make the most of time together in the car - but not to let it get too out of hand. "The 'time out' that a long car journey can provide is often the perfect place to chew over some of life's big decisions. But if it starts to get in the way of your concentration on the road then it's time to put the discussion on hold - or find somewhere safe to pull over."

Other findings include:

37% of Brits who have discussed these issues in a car admit to always or sometimes arguing whilst making life-changing decisions in the car.

18-24 year olds are twice as likely to have discussed changes to their love life as those aged 45-54.

The subject people would most avoid discussing in the car is divorce (50%).

The research was conducted to coincide with Kia Motors' new ad campaign for the cee'd, that sees a man and woman agreeing to get married, settle down and have kids all during the course of a car journey.

www.kia.co.uk