Couples say they get closer on road trips

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DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Almost all U.S. couples say they have taken a road trip together and 84 percent say the experience strengthened their relationship, a survey indicates.

A survey of more than 1,000 U.S. couples by YourTango.com, a website on relationships, and the Ford Motor Co., found plenty of couples have a "back-seat driver" on board who "helps" the real driver negotiate the road:

-- 32 percent tell the driver they're driving too fast.

-- 27 percent tell them they're going the wrong way.

-- 22 percent tell them they're not paying enough attention to their surroundings/traffic.

-- 15 percent chide the driver for going too slowly.

After guiding the driver, the second-most popular back-seat driving technique involves physical actions like holding the dashboard, pressing an invisible brake or making other sounds of fright, the survey says.

Fifty-six percent say the best driving conversations focus on the present -- such as the sights, news, other drivers. Nineteen percent who say the best discussions involve the future -- marriage, kids, home buying, etc.

Thirty-five percent of the couples say they've been on eight or more road trips together, while 68 percent describe their road trips as fun-filled or relaxing.

The survey was conducted by SurveyMonkey between July 30 and Aug. 20. No margin of error was provided.