Vehicle Ownership Provides More Freedom on Vacation

Due to many interplaying factors, Magyar Suzuki has found that 95.58% of the respondents choose to travel with their own vehicle. In addition to this trend, the survey also reported that seven out of ten people have always traveled in their own vehicles, and do not plan on deferring from this practice.

The survey found that there are multiple reasons why vacationers opt to use their own cars for traveling. According to the results, people rely on the freedom that their own vehicle provides (33.48%) and many think that it’s practical (31.63%) or that driving is a fun activity (20.79%). It’s also safe (4.98%), individuals are able to choose who to travel with (4.52%), it is more cost-effective (3.85%) and more predictable (0.75%) than other modes of transportation.

Boundaries and Sacrifices

However, the above-mentioned factors are not the only influences in the decision-making process. Rising costs are discouraging many individuals from using other vehicles. To find a way around this, people have resorted to setting boundaries in their travels, as well as making sacrifices in their daily lives.

Some 16.86% of those who opt to use their own vehicle for vacations use their car less on weekdays and more on holidays, 8.97% still use their car on vacation but less often abroad, and only 1.6% say that they won’t travel by car to a destination beyond national borders.

Comfort and Safety

Another aspect that may deter some families from using their own cars for traveling longer distances is the lack of comfort, or perhaps safety, of passengers. A research from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) states that most traffic accidents occur in the summer due to the large number of cars on the road, as well as the heat, which puts more strain on the body, also affecting concentration. People aim to prevent such discomfort by taking spontaneous rest stops due to fatigue (68.2%), while 16.91% of respondents will make a planned stop.

Zsuzsanna Bonnár-Csonka, head of corporate communications of Magyar Suzuki Corporation urges people to stay safe while traveling.

“Summer is also about relaxation, rest, and recreation, but it is important to be careful when getting behind the wheel during the holidays. It's important to keep our vehicles in good condition, so be sure to have them checked by a professional on a regular basis. It is also worth thinking about the circumstances that may affect our driving skills. In addition to mental and physical fatigue, we should also consider whether we have the necessary routine to handle increased traffic with confidence,” she advises.