Radio still essential for UK drivers

Eight out of ten new car drivers would never consider buying a car without a radio.

A survey of drivers in France, Germany and the UK found that radio formed 75% of all in-car listening with 84% of drivers always or mostly listening to radio on every journey. When drivers were asked which single entertainment source they’d keep in their car above all others, 69% nominated radio.

There is little difference in attitudes to in-car listening across age ranges, genders and car types according to the survey. Across the three countries surveyed 90% of respondents believed radio should always be free to use.

The survey comes from UK Radioplayer, a partnership between BBC and commercial radio. As well as being responsible for the Radioplayer apps and the online player on most radio station websites it is looking at the future of radio in-car.

Car dashboards have evolved in recent years to include bluetooth, touch screens, apps, navigation and integration with Apple and Android smartphones. The radio industry is looking at how radio fits in cars of the future. Michael Hill, Managing Director of Radioplayer said:

“Seatbelt, ignition, radio. That habit’s clearly as ingrained today, as it was 20 years ago. Now we need to act in partnership across the European radio industry, share this research with the car companies, and work together to build the dashboards of the future.”

Digital radio is now fitted as standard in 80% of new cars, but new city and small cars lag behind family cars and SUVs. The most popular new car of 2015, the Ford Fiesta, doesn’t yet come with DAB as standard across trim levels.

There are around 35 million vehicles on UK roads and device manufacturer Pure is expected to unveil an update to their Highway range soon. The Pure Highway and similar devices provide the easiest and cheapest way to upgrade a car radio with a dashboard add-on.