Britain's drivers spend three years of their life behind the wheel

Britain's 30 million car drivers spend more than three years of their lives behind the wheel and shell out more than £150,000 on the day-to-day running of their vehicles during that time, according to a new report from headline sponsor of the British International Motor Show, Lloyds TSB Insurance.

The research explores the often steamy relationships we have with our cars and shows that as we spend more time and money on our vehicles, we're becoming increasingly attached to them.

Given the range of life experiences Britons have in their cars, it is perhaps not surprising that drivers feel so strongly about their vehicles:

A quarter of the population had their first kiss behind the wheel
One in twenty lost their virginity in their vehicles
Three per cent proposed to their partner on the back seat
One per cent gave birth in their car

The research also reveals that fourteen per cent of motorists have forged such a bond with their cars that they describe the relationship as 'love'. This is especially true of the younger generation (16-24 year olds) a fifth (21 per cent) of whom claim they love their motors. One in ten drivers (11 per cent) admit their vehicles form an important part of their own identity, while almost one in ten (eight per cent) say they miss their cars when they are separated.

The relationship we hold with our cars seems to have been born from childhood memories, with four in five of us having strong memories of family summer holidays and trips to see relatives. One in two of us also remember family arguments, in car travel games and group sing-a-longs.

One in ten drivers (11 per cent) say they spend up to twenty hours a week behind the wheel, while a third (30 per cent) say they drive for up to ten hours a week. The same proportion spend up to four hours in the cars, while almost a fifth (19 per cent) say they are on the road for about two hours a week.

Phil Loney, Managing Director, Lloyds TSB Insurance, said: "There's no denying that the car has a very special place in our hearts. From childhood and throughout adulthood, our cars play a really important role in our lives - and judging by the findings of this report they are obviously a source of many happy memories."

Phil Loney continued: "It is clear that with many of us devoting increasing amounts of time and money on our vehicles, that relationship is only going to get stronger. However, all the love in the world cannot protect our cars against the dangers on the road and it is absolutely vital that all drivers have adequate insurance. This is not only a legal requirement - it's one of the best ways of ensuring you are protected on the road."