A recent study has tested our patience to find out how tolerant we are as a nation.
The average person loses patience after five minutes waiting to be served at a bar, 13 minutes waiting for a delayed train and 18 minutes for a friend to call us back, the study has revealed.
Research into the limits of British patience found we will sit in traffic for 13 minutes before getting angry and expect a web page to load in under ten seconds.
Our tipping point is also waiting any more than 24 minutes for food being brought out after first ordering, results showed.
The study of 2,000 people, which was commissioned by parcel and postage comparison website Interparcel.com, found the average person will wait up to 16 seconds for an online video to buffer and expect a parcel ordered online to arrive within four and a half days.
We’re also prepared to wait 17 minutes for a date running late to arrive at a pre-arranged venue, but expect to hear back from them within two days afterwards if love is to blossom.
How long does our patience last?
Waiting for a web page or link to load – 10 seconds
Waiting for a video to buffer – 16 seconds
Waiting for a drink at a bar – 5 minutes
Phoning a utility or large company – 8 minutes
Queuing for train tickets – 9 minutes
Being kept on hold for doctors – 9 minutes
Queuing to post a letter- 10 minutes
Putting up with a screaming child in a restaurant – 10 minutes
Delayed train – 13 minutes
Sitting still in traffic – 13 minutes
Waiting for a bus – 13 minutes
Friend says they’ll call you right back – 18 minutes
Waiting for food at a restaurant – 24 minutes
Waiting for a parcel to be delivered – 4.5 days
A spokesman, said: ‘’It’s interesting to see the limits in the various scenarios and how strong British patience really is and we live in an age where things move fast.
‘’The average person expects good, reliable service quicker than ever before and the results show expectations are reasonable. Frustration kicks in when there’s a lack of communication or poor processes.’’
Do you think we are becoming increasingly impatient as a nation? Hurry up we waiting to hear your views! Ed
