Overview
- About half of respondents say they have hidden in their car to get a few quiet minutes away from partners, children or colleagues.
- Seventy-seven percent report staying in their vehicle for five minutes or more at the start or end of journeys to unwind.
- Average parked time is 13 minutes, with parents at 14 minutes versus nine minutes for non-parents, and more parents report feeling guilty about it (21% vs 14%).
- Thirty-five percent admit using a quick-errand excuse to grab a moment alone, with many citing privacy (42%) or space to think (27%), and 63% feel better prepared afterward.
- Halfords describes cars as a quiet sanctuary and ties the habit to winter readiness, noting more reliance in colder months (36%) and greater stress around driving and maintenance (52%).