Posted on May 30, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

If you’re venturing on your first ever overseas car hire trip with a significant other this summer, you may find some trouble in paradise.  According to latest research results from easyCar.com, one of the most common causes of rows between British couples who find themselves touring Spain, France and Portugal is bad driving habits.

The survey reveals that driving abroad causes arguments among 37% of couples while on holiday. 

According to a leading psychologist, drivers’ motoring foibles become more obvious when driving on foreign soil.  The most common irritants for partners are poor map reading (48%), driving too fast (28%) and misunderstanding foreign road signs (21%).

Professor Moxon has come up with four labels to describe the different types of UK drivers abroad.  They include:

SatNavvies (43%, drivers over-reliant on GPS)

Planners (37%, extremely organised drivers)

Road Signers (19%, drivers who rely heavily on road signs)

Freewheelers (13%, free-spirited drivers, no maps here!)

When it comes to driving abroad, the positives far outweigh the negatives, though.  A self-drive is one of the best ways to escape the well-worn tourist trail and discover some of the world’s most amazing destinations for yourself.