Brit travellers categorised as 'Homer Simpsons' and 'Mr Spocks'

London, Dec 22 (ANI): A new study from the University of the West of England (UWE) has classified Brit travellers into two distinct character groups- Homer Simpson or Mr Spock.

People who fall in the category of 'Mr Spock' takes care of every little detail and gather all information to make an economical choice of how best to get from A to B. They gather information from websites, ticket hotlines and special offers to strike the best balance between journey cost, time and hassle.

The Homer Simpson-types, on the other hand, have a much more laid back attitude to journeys, for they accept delays and congestion as a fact of life.

Instead of planning, they seek ways of making the journey more enjoyable.

The study led by Economic and Social Research Council and the Technology Strategy Board aimed to discover how the transport industry focuses on these two different types of travellers.

The researchers found that some sectors of the industry tackled congestion by providing advice and information for the Mr Spocks.

But some sectors exploit the congestion to invent increasingly sophisticated in-vehicle products and services to help the Homer Simpsons pass the time.

Professor Glenn Lyons, director of the transport research society at UWE, said that the two characters describe the range of individual behaviour among the travelling public.

"Mr Spock is the archetype of logic - he wants to be in possession of all the facts so he can make the best possible decisions when taking a trip," the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

"Homer Simpson, on the other hand, thinks that making trips is no big deal. As long as things work out he has many other things on his mind besides 'optimising' his travel.

"Research shows that an individual's travel choices are bound up with many factors including their personality, habits, family structure and social networks," he added. (ANI)