Getting directions in Britain: Just ask (men!)

Listen up women. Here's some empirical data you can throw at your man next time he drives around aimlessly, ignoring your repeated requests that he stop and simply ask for directions. The entire drama is costing him money -- about £2,000 over his lifetime, according to British analysts with car insurer Sheila's Wheels. That's about $3,100 in U.S. money. Men drive roughly 276 unnecessary miles each year trying to figure out exactly where they are going because, of course, the destination is just around the corner. And unfortunately for most men, they eventually wear down and ask -- it usually takes at least half an hour. Moreover, one in ten men say they would never -- ever -- ask a stranger for help while three in four women wouldn't hesitate.

"Our research not only reveals that men aren't quite as confident behind the wheel as they make out when it comes to navigation but also that women are in control when it comes to modern motoring," says Jacky Brown at Shiela's Wheels. "Lost miles can add up and become costly so if you're looking to save on petrol (and the pennies) we suggest you plan and prepare your route well in advance."

The study was limited to Britain, where men in the northeastern part of the country spend the longest amount of time each year lost (12 hours). Welshmen came a close second. Yet a quarter of Londoners (25 percent) admit to never pulling over to ask for directions when lost, compared to 28 per cent of Welsh motorists who always pull over to ask for help. 

The men of England's southwest, where people tend to say things like "super!" spend a mere 7.3 hours lost annually.

Image: A photo illustration of a lost male English driver asking for directions after driving 276 unnecessary miles/via WikiCommons

Of course men are prone to gadgets and the study didn't account for GPS-enabled maps on systems like the iPhone.