Time wasted in traffic and searching for parking spaces are among British drivers’ most common frustrations when on the road today.

The online research, commissioned by Nuance Communications and carried out by YouGov, quizzed drivers on their expectations around in-car digital technology.

70% of drivers cited time wasted in traffic, while more than half (53%) said searching for parking spaces, are their most common gripes when behind the wheel.  

Looking to the future, consumers would want their cars to proactively tell them if there is free parking at their destination, let them know if they don’t have enough fuel to complete their journey, and if they are likely to arrive late.

Drivers are also more focused on the driving experience than expecting automotive assistants to help them be more productive. Indeed, many drivers expect their automotive assistants to act as guide while on the road (58%), to help them stay connected with friends and family (21%) and to entertain them (22%), while productivity was an important factor for just 10% of respondents.

This survey demonstrates that British drivers would look for in-car technology to humanise their driving experience, by enabling them to stay in touch with people and increase the enjoyment of driving.  

Fatima Vital, senior director marketing automotive at Nuance Communications, said: “Across every platform and service we use, we are increasingly demanding a more human and personalised experience.

“While we have truly made some incredible improvements in car technology over the past century for getting us ‘from A to B’, only now are we on the cusp of a true revolution of the automotive experience.”

Nuance Communications is already helping automotive manufacturers to bridge the gap between the car, the driver’s smartphone and the cloud. By capturing key information on preferred destinations and past-times, automotive assistants provide a more humanised driving experience by giving drivers the results and responses that are relevant to them personally.