Stifle that yawn!

The nation appears to be struck down by fatigue or boredom with more than 379 million yawns reverberating inside UK homes, offices and cars every day, according to a survey by esure car insurance.

The average Brit will yawn a staggering quarter of a million times in their lifetime.

There are differing schools of thought surrounding the exact causes of yawning, but the majority of Brits (86%) believe it is contagious and when someone else starts, they find themselves 'catching' the yawn. esure's 'Yawning Nation' survey also shows that people are most likely to yawn in the late evening (23%) or the middle of the afternoon (15%) - the after lunch lull.

What makes people yawn the most: (ranked in order of frequency)
1. Seeing others yawn - 44%
2. Driving a long distance - 21%
3. Watching an epic film - 10%
4. Concentrating for a lengthy period of time - 9%
5. Reading a book - 6%
6. Talking about yawning - 5%

Driving is the everyday activity that makes Brits yawn the most. The dangers of driving when tired are well publicised3 and a shocking 8% of drivers admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel and over a quarter (28%) have been known to 'micro-sleep' - have not been able to recall certain parts of their car journey. The average driver admitted that the longest they'd ever spent behind the wheel without a break was just under 4 hours - double the recommended maximum.

Given that a fifth of people admit that long distance driving is a yawn, it would seem that the message behind the UK's 'tiredness kills, take a break' signs aren't getting through. Drivers are using alternative methods to stay awake. Opening the window is the most popular way for drivers to keep themselves alert (81%), but slapping themselves across the face (6%) is one of the more extreme methods that drivers confess to resorting to, in order to wake themselves up.

Most popular ways drivers keep themselves awake in the car: (ranked in order of frequency)
1. Opening the window - 81%
2. Cold air/air conditioning - 64%
3. Singing along to the radio or a CD - 50%
4. Playing loud music - 43%
5. Splashing cold water on their face - 12%
6. Slapping themselves across the face - 6%

Dr Chris Idzikowski, Director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, said: "There are both social and physical factors behind why we yawn but it is true that we mimic others. Findings have found that in both studies of humans and gorillas that if the leader of the pack yawns, the rest of the group will copy them - even if they aren't fatigued. Of course, tiredness due to lack of sleep and periods of intense concentration also cause us to gasp for air.

"The methods that drivers say they are using to keep themselves awake in the car are all ineffective. They will not stop people from falling asleep unintentionally or fend off a distracting yawn. The only thing to counteract tiredness behind the wheel of the car and fully recharge the human battery is having caffeine followed by two closely spaced 20 to 30 minute naps before setting out."

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure, said: "One of the most dangerous places to yawn is behind the wheel of a car. Hands can instinctively leave the steering wheel to cover mouths, and eyes are likely to water resulting in blurred vision. Alarmingly, if a motorist yawns whilst driving 70mph on the motorway, they will travel a distance of over 1105 metres under the distracting affects of a yawn.

"No-one should have to resort to extreme measures - such as slapping themselves across the face - to stay awake behind the wheel. Tiredness kills and all drivers should think, not only about themselves, but about other innocent road users who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Never start a long journey tired, always take plenty of breaks, and get a good night's sleep before turning on the ignition."