TRAFFIC jams provide quality time for drivers to relax and perf orm routine tasks, researchers claimed yesterday.
The RAC Foundation says that people who sit in cars commuting to and from work are often not at all frustrated at getting caught in traffic.
Instead they take the opportunity to listen to music, study a language, sing, talk to passengers, eat, compose poetry or even pray.
The pastime that topped the list was simply "thinking" and all the tasks were seen as improving levels of serenity, providing a buffer between home and work life. Consultant psychologist Conrad Black, who carried out the research, said: "Time in the car is often the only 'quality' time a family gets to spend together or the only predictable time to make certain phone calls.
"The type of thought that occurs when driving is actually very similar to the type of brain activity that takes place during meditation.
"The logical part of the brain tends to disengage leaving a lot of people driving on mental auto-pilot and the driver is then free to contemplate all matters from the meaning of life to the reason why traffic lights seem to always turn red against him.
"If a driver gets into the right frame of mind, he or she can actually finish their journey in a more serene state than when they began it.
"While certain tranquil music might help with this, listening to louder music or radio talk shows tends to prevent actual contemplation."
As many as 72pc of commuters out-side London use their cars to get to work and spend an average of 22 minutes commuting each way according to the RAC.
Foundation executive director Edmund King said: "It's about making the best of a necessity.
"Many drivers lead such busy lives that many perceive their daily commute as a valuable bit of 'me' time with no demands from boss, family or customers.
"For motorists not subjected to the worst traffic congestion, that commute is regarded as a rare opportunity for self-indulgence.
"Almost half of the drivers we spoke to said that they chose to drive because it was enjoyable and comfortable.
"It also demonstrates that most motorists are more than capable of handling multi-tasking and coping with so called distractions, although we obviously wouldn't advocate some of the preferred occupations as a safe combination with driving - like lengthy telephone conversations, complicated dictation or consuming your breakfast behind the wheel."..SUPL:
