LONDON: Citroen says more than a third of passengers struggle to go to sleep during a car journey and the French maker has come up with comfy, high-tech seats that it says make nodding off easier.
The study, carried out with sleep behaviour and environment expert James Wilson, revealed that 37 per cent of 2,000 British motorists find it hard to snooze in a car, while 14 per cent said they never sleep on the move.
Citroen has fitted its new electric C4, C4 and C5 Aircross SUV models with hydraulic bump stops on the suspension for better control of compression and rebound, as well as seats with high-density foam and broader base cushions and seat backs.
The cars come with "Progressive Hydraulic Cushion" technology as standard. It smooths out jolts from poor road surfaces.
A lot of drivers might be irritated when their passengers drop off but the survey found that two thirds (66 per cent) are not too bothered if their travelling companions fall asleep during a journey - providing they don't snore while doing so.
Dropping off during highway or long-distance journeys is easiest, said 70 per cent of respondents.
A number of factors enable people to sleep in cars, said expert Wilson. These include the seating position, the time of day, internal vehicle ambience and the legroom on offer. Not surprisingly loud road noise and bumps hamper sleep.
"We can often struggle to find time for a power-nap, so the car can be an ideal place," said Wilson.
"Being able to catch a 30-minute power nap during the day, when it’s possible, is really beneficial and can certainly help people to feel reinvigorated.”
