Love your commute: 7 ways to make that daily car journey more pleasant

Following news that the average commuter covers 16.7 miles in their journey to and from work, we thought we’d take a look at some of the ways you can improve that daunting daily trip.

1. Take some time to work out the most efficient way to get to work, bearing in mind this won’t always be the route that looks the shortest on a map. One day this information will be relayed to your car while you drive, through special car-to-x communication technology. That would be better.

2. Eat a proper, healthy breakfast so you don’t get that tell-tale stomach rumble while you’re stuck in a traffic jam. And use the bathroom in advance. Just saying.

3. Make sure your car has the most useful features– you may not require a Sat Nav, but cars with Bluetooth are great for making calls on the move and using your time efficiently; cars with a Digital Radio will hopefully liven up the journey and cars with climate control and cruise control will make your ride as smooth and comfortable as possible. (We would of course say this, but… a good car will make for a good commute!)

4. Visit the Commuting Expert website for the best in apps, advice, vouchers and maps.

5. Enter our Gordon Shedden competition on Twitter to win a driving experience with the British Touring Car driver and learn how to drive like a pro. (Disclaimer: you may be able to go faster on the Knockhill circuit than on the M25.)

6. If you have a car with MP3 playing capabilities, keep your music device up to date so you’re not stuck listening to the same old tunes or a radio station that you’ve grown tired of. We don’t know what songs are best to drive to, but we do know a lot of songs about driving. You’re welcome.

7. Look at this picture before you leave for work to cheer you up, or print it out and stick it on your dashboard. No? Not a cute kittens person? Oh well. We tried.

Not a commuter? If you only drive for pleasure and road trips, you might be interested in our cars with in-built Satellite Navigation systems. (You may also need this for your commute if it's your first day... or you just have a terrible memory.)