Having our plans interrupted drives us crazy, according to a study by General Tire. This was confirmed by six out of ten people surveyed, who admitted that they get stressed when they are interrupted, especially on a trip they were really looking forward to.
The survey respondents named unexpected phone calls as the most frustrating interruption, followed by losing Wi-Fi connection, traffic jams and getting a flat tyre.
To anticipate the needs of our users and offer better support, the researchers at General Tire analysed the causes of delays and looked at which interruptions cause the most frustration. Matthias Bartz, head of research at General Tire, states: “the study confirms just how much stress interruptions can cause.
This has an impact on your mood and concentration while you drive, although planning and having the right equipment can make a big difference”. He also added that “We anticipate problems and use the technology in our vehicles to resolve them, which drives new technology such as visual warnings to let drivers know when their tyres need to be changed”.
Although interruptions might be irritating, half of those interviewed admit that they are guilty of doing the same thing to other people. The survey, which covered 1,000 people, revealed that one in six of those interviewed had deliberately woken people up just because they wanted something.
People are so determined to be left alone that one in five millennials use headphones without listening to music just to make sure no one will bother them.
Another trick to avoid delays during your trips is to have cash at hand to pay for parking, making sure you have enough petrol, and putting your phone on silent to avoid inconvenient calls and messages.
Matthias Bartz notes: “People come up with ingenious ways to avoid their plans being ruined, and our experts do the same thing to make sure your trips go ahead without any mishaps. We understand the importance of avoiding breaks due to tyre trouble, especially in the summer months, when our information shows that there are more tyre problems.
That’s why General Tire has technology that not only lets you know when you need to change your tyres but also notifies you whenever there’s any unusual wear and tear”.
According to the study carried out by General Tire, these are the 20 most frustrating interruptions:
1. Unexpected phone calls
2. Losing Wi-Fi connection
3. Traffic jams
4. Flat tyres
5. Power cuts
6. Unexpected phone calls (home)
7. People who cut in line in traffic jams
8. Loud music
9. Boiler stops working in winter
10. Being woken up unexpectedly
11. Loss of mobile signal
12. People putting pressure on other drivers in traffic jams
13. Being interrupted when speaking
14. People asking for money in the street
15. Running out of battery on your mobile phone
16. Systems updates on electronic devices
17. Getting into bed and realising you need to go to the bathroom
18. No money in a shop that doesn’t accept payments with cards
19. Unexpected rain on a day trip
20. Running out of fuel
