Drivers vote for The Killers on the road

With summer day trips on the horizon, what makes the ultimate driving song? Is it the upbeat, sing-a-long variety or something more calming and tranquil? Is it a modern classic or an older masterpiece?

Insurance expert elephant.co.uk asked over a thousand motorists to vote for their favourite driving song, and contemporary pop anthem Mr Brightside by The Killers came top of the list.

But it was 70s and 80s classics that dominated the rest of the top ten with Holding Out For A Hero by Bonnie Tyler and In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins voted as second and third favourites.

elephant.co.uk's Ultimate Driving Songs are:

Mr Brightside - The Killers
Holding Out For A Hero - Bonnie Tyler
In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
American Pie - Don McLean
Paradise City - Guns n Roses
Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
I Drove All Night - Cyndi Lauper
Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealer's Wheel
Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett

elephant.co.uk managing director, Brian Martin said, "It was really interesting to see that the most modern song was the one to take the top spot. For a relatively new tune, it seems to have made quite an impact."

Taking men and women's votes separately the results take a twist. Women went for the gravely tones of Bonnie Tyler as number one but the Welsh warbler only just made the men's list languishing at number 9. Mr Brightside was second and Phil Collins third for women, while men voted the Killers' classic as their favourite but Don McLean's American Pie took the second spot pushing Phil Collins to number three.

elephant.co.uk also asked drivers about their musical habits behind the wheel and discovered that we are a nation of in-car singers. Almost a fifth of people admit to always singing when driving with only seven per cent of people preferring complete peace and quiet in their car.

Brian Martin said, "It's women that are the most prolific in-car crooners and more than twice as many women than men admit to always singing in their car. 12 per cent of men claim they drive in silence compared to only three per cent of women."

Do you fancy listening to any of these songs on your next journey? You can download any or all of them by visiting elephant.co.uk.