In Australia, most people prefer to be the driver, according to a new survey by car insurance comparison service iSelect. The survey of more than 3000 Australians, Americans, and Canadians explored who prefers to drive, who prefers to be a passenger, and who gets to choose the music.
Driving Preferences in Australia
The survey found that 62.5 per cent of Australians prefer to be the driver, while only 37.5 per cent prefer to be the passenger. When broken down by gender, 77 per cent of men prefer driving, compared to 55 per cent of women who prefer being the passenger princess.
Music Control
When it comes to music, most Australians prefer sharing responsibility between driver and passenger. However, 40 per cent believe the driver should control the music, and only 12 per cent think the passenger should have that power.
Age Differences
Younger drivers aged 18-24 show the smallest gap in preference: 52 per cent prefer to drive, while 48 per cent prefer to be passengers. This may reflect lower confidence on the roads among young drivers. Adults aged 75 and older also show a relatively narrow gap, with 59 per cent preferring driving, indicating that independence behind the wheel remains important in later life.
Australians aged 35-44 have the strongest preference for driving, with only 30 per cent opting to ride shotgun. In most age groups, the driver is seen as the most appropriate person to choose the music, especially among 45 to 54-year-olds. However, older Australians are more likely to make joint decisions: 60 per cent of those aged 55-64 share music control, followed by 56 per cent of 65-74-year-olds and 53 per cent of those over 75.
Giving passengers sole control of the music is consistently the least popular option across all age groups, never exceeding 22 per cent. This suggests a broad preference for either driver authority or shared decision-making over the playlist.
International Comparison
The results were broadly similar across Canada and the US, indicating that these preferences are not unique to Australia.
