To help celebrate World Sleep Day on 19 March, Citroen has undertaken a survey of British motorists and snoozy passengers.
From 2,000 respondents, some 37 percent stated that they struggle to fall asleep whilst being a passenger in a moving car. A further 14 percent said they were never able to nap on the move.
For those driving, 66 percent had no objection to travel companions falling asleep on a journey.
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Motorways and dual carriageways were reported to be the best roads for passengers taking a snooze. More than two-thirds (67 percent) of respondents said they would fall asleep on these roads.
In terms of what helps in-car sleeps, more than half of those surveyed (55 percent) said that comfortable seats are a major factor. A smooth ride from the suspension was noted as a key element for 49 percent of respondents.
Having ample leg room mattered for more than one-quarter (26 percent), with optimum interior temperature highlighted by 24 percent.
The science of sleeping
Citroen has collaborated with sleep expert James Wilson to find a formula for the OIC (Optimum In-Car Sleep) scenario.
OIC = C (SP, T, A, L, S) – R
Although not quite the catchiest of formulae, Citroen has at least provided its working out.
Comfort (C) is a product of:
- Seating Position (SP),
- Time (T),
- Internal Ambience (A),
- Legroom (L), and
- Suspension (S).
The effect of external distractions (R), such as rough road surfaces, are then subtracted.
Advice for wannabe nappers
To help those struggling to sleep as a passenger, Citroen has provided top napping tips from James Wilson:
- The timing of naps is important, and is best done before 2:00pm,
- Naps should not last longer than 30 minutes. Exceeding this duration is likely to affect ‘proper’ sleeping at night,
- Seat comfort is critical, so ensuring the correct seating position is vital to an effective snooze,
- Making use of all available legroom
- A drop in heart rate aids sleeping, so listening to a podcast or spoken book can help. Using headphones will also block out external sounds.
Eurig Druce, MD of Citroen UK, said: “With more than a third of passengers struggling to fall asleep in a car, comfort plays a key role in creating an environment where passengers can doze off for a quick power nap.
“Our research shows some of the optimal conditions to achieve a comfortable sleep environment, with our cars designed for maximum comfort and well-being.”
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