London - We are now more likely to be late than ten years ago, according to a study – and a fifth of us don’t even care.
Nearly a quarter of Britons arrive at work and social events “much later” than a decade ago.
And four in ten are prepared to lie about the reasons for being late, blaming traffic jams, poor transport, work and oversleeping. However, 20 percent said they do not even care that they are often late.
There are limits though. We start to feel guilty about being late after nine minutes of delay. And being kept hanging around for 20 minutes is the threshold for becoming “annoyed” by the tardiness of others.
Technology, social media and increasingly unavoidable traffic problems are the reasons we are becoming more comfortable with being late.
About 23 percent of those surveyed in the research by breakdown-cover provider Green Flag say they are likely to be “much later” because it’s now far easier to let friends know via their smartphone that they’re running behind.
And worsening traffic was cited by nearly half of the 2 000 people questioned as an excuse.
REASONS GIVEN FOR BEING LATE
Bad traffic jams: 18 percent
Transport delays: 17percent
Held up at work: seven percent
Taking a call: six percent
Overslept: six percent
Couldn’t find parking space: six percent
Got lost: six percent
Mistook appointment time: five percent
Children: four percent
Daily Mail