26 March 2010

Time To Get An Early Night As Clocks Go Forward

• 42% of Brits admit concentration levels reduced the day after clock go forward
• Nearly half of the UK (49%) take two days or more to get used to clocks going forward

As households across the UK prepare to move their clocks forward this weekend, over two-fifths (42%) of Brits admit that losing an hour of sleep affects their concentration levels the next day.

The survey by M&S Car Insurance found that when the clocks go forward at the start of British Summer Time, almost a quarter of women (24%) and just under a fifth of men (18%) feel tired and less able to concentrate the following morning. 

Just under half of adults (49%) take two or more days to recover from the clocks going forward and 5% of those surveyed take over a week to stop feeling the affects of losing an hour of sleep.  

Late for a very important date:

According to the research 16% of adults in the UK completely forgot to move their clock forward last year.

Almost a quarter (22%) of Brits admit they have been late for work or meeting up with friends or family in the past due to the clocks changing.  

Only one in 10 said they go to bed an hour early this time of year, to make sure they don't lose out on a good night's sleep.

David Wells, M&S Head of Insurance, said: “It certainly helps to be prepared for the clocks going forward, but few of us are organised enough, or feel tired enough to go to bed earlier than usual. Our concern is the impact of losing an hour's sleep on concentration, particularly on drivers.

“Being tired and rushing around because you might be late for work or a social event is a dangerous combination when behind the wheel of a car.  It could lead to drivers not paying attention to the road, or to other road users.”

M&S Car Insurance top tips to a stress free start to British Summer Time:

• Change your clocks early the night before, to give your mind and body a chance to adjust
• Try to go to bed earlier than normal
• Do some exercise in the morning to feel fresh and alert
• Take more time and care when driving the next day
• Try not to organise anything important the next morning, so if you are running a little late, it doesn't have a negative impact

For more information about M&S Car Insurance or to apply, customers can visit www.marksandspencer.com/carinsurance or telephone 0800 107 1819

ENDS

For further information please call the M&S Money press office:

Simon Coughlin on 020 7992 1574
simon.coughlin@mandsmoney.com

Liz Neild on 01244 686 068
liz.a.neild@mandsmoney.com

Notes to Editors

The research was conducted online on Wednesday 24th February 2010 by OnePoll, with a total sample size of 3000 UK adults.

M&S Premier Car Insurance features include:

• M&S Premier Car Insurance has been Five-Star Rated for features and benefits by Defaqto, an independent research company. M&S Standard Car Insurance also available;
• UK and European Breakdown Cover included, covering you not just your car;
• Guaranteed car hire for up to 14 days after an accident, fire or theft;
• Keycare, giving you up to £1,000 towards new keys, locks and locksmith services;
• £100,000 Motor Legal Protection to help you claim for any uninsured losses;
• M&S Cardholders will receive 1000 M&S points, when they take out a new policy.

M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc, making 2010 the company's 25th anniversary.

The company is a top-ten credit card provider and the second-largest travel money retailer in the UK.  M&S Money also offers a range of insurance cover, including home insurance and car insurance, as well as loans, savings and investment products.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC. HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 8,000 offices in 88 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$2,364 billion at 31 December 2009, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘the world's local bank'.

M&S Money has an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

M&S car insurance is arranged by BISL Ltd using a panel of insurers.