Improve your relationship by doing this in the car

While the popular new book, Fifty Shades of Grey involves Christian and Ana having some extracurricular fun in an Audi R8 after a high-speed car chase, a new survey found that being in a car can actually help improve a couples love life. It may not involve doing the deed in the back seat, but spending quality time together on a road trip can have some relationship benefits.

The survey shows that couples who take a road trip together can reconnect by spending quality time together. The new survey of more than 1,000 couples released by YourTango.com collaborating with Ford Motor Company, revealed that 91 percent of couples have taken road trips together, and 84 percent agree the experience has strengthened their relationship.

The car represents quality time

Togetherness in the car while taking a road trip, represents an opportunity for quality time among couples in many different ways. While it’s not recommended to distract the driver while behind the wheel, its good to be affectionate in the car. Sixty-three percent of respondents agree or strongly agree they are affectionate with their partner while driving; they hold hands or share a kiss at a red light.

And the car is a great place to reconnect by using that time to talk. Fifty-seven percent say driving is a good time to discuss important topics with their spouse or partner. Respondents said their three favorite ways to pass the time are, talking and catching up with each other (63 percent), playing our favorite music (60 percent), and just sitting and enjoying the sights (37 percent).

Ford participated in the survey and YourTango CEO Andrea Miller said, “We were excited to learn Ford is eager to provide couples a space to communicate and enjoy quality time together on the road ‒ such an insightful, worthwhile objective. With so many couples struggling with stress and looking for ways to stay connected, we can now offer a new, easy answer: Try going on a road trip!”

There is a downside to a road trip

There is a downside to spending a lot of time in the car together. For instance, many couples have a “back-seat driver” who likes to “help” the driver negotiate the road. This can be damaging to the relationship and have a negative effect. Those “helpful” tips involve, telling the driver they’re driving too fast, telling them they’re going the wrong way, telling them they’re not paying enough attention to the traffic, or berate them for going too slow. Other things to avoid are physical actions like holding the dashboard or pressing an invisible brake. And especially gasping and making other sounds of fright.

Watch the funny video of Augusto and Liri below and get some additional tips on what not to do while drive together.

Image Source: Flickr

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