Asger Risom
New research finds millions of drivers taking a few stolen minutes in their parked cars to decompress away from kids, partners, and daily chaos.
New research finds millions of drivers taking a few stolen minutes in their parked cars to decompress away from kids, partners, and daily chaos.
A new kind of sanctuary
Half of drivers admit they’ve “hidden” in their car simply to get some peace and quiet from partners, children, or colleagues.
The joy of sitting still
A survey of 2,000 motorists found 77% linger for five minutes or more at the start or end of journeys to reset before going inside.
Errands as alibis
More than a third (35%) say they’ve used a “quick errand” as the excuse for a short, quiet break in the car.
Why the car feels perfect
Two-thirds (67%) call the car the ideal five-minute retreat — enclosed, familiar, and reliably theirs.
Peace, privacy, perspective
Privacy tops the list for 42% of drivers, and 27% say it’s one of the few places they can actually hear themselves think.
A quick reset for the day
Nearly two-thirds (63%) report feeling more prepared to tackle the rest of the day after a brief pause in the car.
Parents linger longer
Parents average 14 minutes of “car time,” versus nine minutes for non-parents — and 21% of parents feel guilty about it (14% of non-parents do).
When people hide most
Summer is the peak season for these quiet car breaks (18%), even if the habit spans the whole year.
Winter dependence and stress
Despite summer being peak “car time,” 36% say they rely more on their car in winter, and 52% find winter driving and upkeep more stressful.
The brand behind the poll
Halfords, which commissioned the study, calls the car an “unspoken sanctuary” and urges people to give themselves permission to take that time.
A comedian’s confession
Comedian Ellie Taylor says that for busy parents, self-care can be the moment you park outside, breathe, and gather yourself before going in.
This article is made and published by Asger Risom, who may have used AI in the preparation
