2.2 million men have had a car crash over the past year while admiring their appearance when driving, according to new research from More Than Car Insurance.
Vanity-obsessed male motorists – dubbed ‘Motorsexual Men’ by the insurer – admit that obsessing over their hair, applying fake tan and posing in the rear view mirror are the most common causes of their road prangs or near crashes.
On average, a vanity-related crash results in £653.20 damage to the Motorsexual Man’s car.
An estimated 1.3 million Motorsexual Men will regularly apply facial moisturiser, fake tan, and even male foundation when in control of a moving vehicle. Indeed, so preoccupied with their own appearance are they that 2.9 million will linger on their reflections between five and ten times in the space of a single 30 minute car journey. With roughly 4.8 seconds taken up each time they check themselves out, that means millions of male motorists could be spending up to 48 seconds with their eyes fixed on themselves instead of the road.
Unfortunately, such men have had a car crash racking up an average of £653.20 damage each.
Matt Pernet at More Than said: “We’ve heard a number of cautionary tales of women trying to apply makeup when driving, but until now men fawning over their own appearance behind the wheel was an unexplored area. This research shows that Motorsexual Men are significant in their numbers and are putting their safety and the safety of others at risk by valuing the importance of their own reflection over that of the road ahead.”
The research also found that the Ford Focus (11%) is proving to be the most popular among the motorsexual, followed by the Ford Fiesta (10%).
Pernet added: “Given that the male grooming market is now valued at £35bn and growing, it’s clear to see just how important looking good is for the modern man. However, such a preoccupation with appearance should never extend into a moving vehicle.
“With almost one third of Motorsexual Men planning to hit the roads this Easter, it’s important that they leave their looks alone while driving and pay attention to the roads.”