Psychologist claims car seat choice says a lot about you
Where you choose to sit in the car could say more about your personality than you think according to psychologist Dr Martha Newson. Research reveals that our seat choice could explain our social habits and personality types.
Two in five opt for the driver's seat and a third admit they would rather travel by train than sit in the passenger seat of someone else's car. Two in five claim they'd never sit anywhere except the front passenger seat.
The back seat is the preferred seat for a rare 7%.
Dr Newson said: 'Where we choose to position ourselves on a road trip speaks to both our practical instincts and our social style. Some tend to crave control, like the Cruise Commanders behind the wheel, while others, like the adaptable Backseat Boss, lead from the sidelines. These patterns aren't random – we tend to choose the same seat again and again because it gives us a sense of identity, comfort, or control. Whether it's about literally being in the driver's seat, emotional space, or a desire to stay in the background, our seat reflects how we navigate shared experiences. So the next time you share a car journey with others, it's worth thinking about what your preferred seat might say about you and your fellow passengers, to help make for a memorable road trip this season.'
Only 1% of Brits choose the middle seat at the back as their preferred spot.
Naomi Walkland, CMO at Motorway said, 'At Motorway, we know that cars are about more than just getting you from A to B. They enable so many of life's magical moments, from school runs to summer road trips and staycations. As Brits prepare to pack their boots and hit the road this summer, we're encouraging everyone to find out what their seat choice says about themselves and their fellow passengers – and it might even help everyone to enjoy the magic of their car ownership journey a little more.'
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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
My trip inside ‘world Voodoo capital' that's become dark holiday hotspot for Brits who flock to watch grisly sacrifices
Daredevil tourist recalls his chilling visit to the Temple of Pythons where dozens of deadly snakes slither around worshippers LAND OF THE DEAD My trip inside 'world Voodoo capital' that's become dark holiday hotspot for Brits who flock to watch grisly sacrifices Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MASKED goblin figure chases two unsuspecting tourists along the busy streets, shrouded in a long multicoloured cloak. A few feet away, a priest carries a goat, preparing to sacrifice its blood to Voodoo gods and share its meat with other believers. 15 A Zangbeto 'goblin' guardian' chases tourists in the world's 'Voodoo capital' Credit: Kennedy News and Media 15 An altar appears to be covered in the blood of a sacrificed animal Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Voodoo dolls are used to cast love spells Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Brit tourist Keiran Brown poses with a snake around his neck after his visit to the Temple of Pythons Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Welcome to the Voodoo capital of the world: Ouidah, in Benin, West Africa. Here the 'goblin' guardians, known as the Zangbeto, roam the streets wielding wooden swords - ready to ward off evil in both the human and spirit world. Visitors flock to the tiny city, which has a population of 162,000, to witness sacrificial rituals and buy artefacts that are believed to bring good fortune, such as the heads of dogs and other animals. Despite its lack of attention in most mainstream holiday brochures, 337,000 tourists are reported to have visited Benin in 2019 and the numbers are believed to be growing. These so-called 'dark tourists' include Brits like Viktor Wynd - owner of London-based tour company Gone With the Wynd, who takes up to three tours a year - and Kieran Brown, an ex-barman turned TikTok travel influencer. Benin, for its part, is happy to welcome intrigued visitors, with priests charging for their guidance and private rituals, and public festivals and Voodoo events charging admission fees. Kieran, 30, from Sidcup, Kent, visited the country during his tour along Africa's coastline and recalls his nerve-racking encounters at local landmarks including the Temple of Pythons. Inside a sealed room at a religious sanctuary, locals worship snakes instead of fearing them, and Kieran encountered dozens of the creatures slithering around. Snakes are said to represent the Voodoo god Da, who is believed to bring fertility and life to its worshippers. The priest even put one around Kieran's neck but insisted the potentially deadly pythons do not hurt humans. Inside the Voodoo capital of the world where masked 'goblins' chase tourists and dogs' heads are displayed on spikes Kieran tells The Sun: "There was a thick door, the guy opened it, and there were around 60 to 70 pythons. "He put them around our neck and they seemed pretty chilled. "I didn't feel any energy and I don't believe in that but the people in the town are heavy believers. "That's the most popular religion in that side of the world, there is more Voodoo than Christianity." 'Land of the dead' It's thought 60million people around the world practice Voodoo, which is believed to have originated in Ouidah and where around 60 per cent are said to be followers. Voodoo - known traditionally as Vodoun, or Vodún - was officially declared a religion in Benin in 1996, and the annual festival, on January 10, attracts worshippers from all over the globe. Followers believe spirits control both the human world and the 'land of the dead', with different deities relied on to protect everything from villages to trees and rivers. They not only worship them from small shrines in their homes but they also attend public and private rituals led by community priests, who can be male or female. Voodoo dolls are sold at markets and sellers even claim the infamous figurines are able to make people fall in love with you. Snakes are worshipped as gods and animal sacrifice - including that of dogs - is commonplace and is often part of Voodoo initiation ceremonies. Dark arts During his visit, Kieran also recalls his encounter with one of the striking Zangbeto. These oddly dressed, masked figures act as the unofficial police on the streets of Ouidah, and are believed to keep residents and the religion's witches and spirits in line. Their name itself comes from 'zan', meaning night, and 'gbeto' that refers to person or people - so translates to 'people of the night', although they now appear in daylight hours as well. Kieran said: "When we were there we were walking around and there was a man dressed up as a Zangbeto and people were trying to get close to him and he chased people. 15 Voodoo dolls on sale in the city of Ouidah Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Masks and preserved animal parts are sold on the street Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 The Voudoum festival takes place every January "We were walking through a street and he saw us. Because we were the only white people we stood out. "It was a man dressed up like a goblin, he had a thick mask on. "I can't explain it but he was dressed like a monster, people were running away when it came close. "People were trying to annoy it by running towards it and eventually it would snap and start chasing you, it seemed to be like a game, everyone was chanting." Temple of Pythons Ouidah is home to the religion's Mecca, The Sacred Forest, where trees are considered holy and capable of granting wishes. Due to the rituals of spells and sacrifices, parallels have been drawn to witchcraft, which was greatly feared in 13th to 15th century Britain and led to the execution of those accused of practising it. However, Voodoo is now recognised as a protected religious belief in Britain under the Equality Act 2010. And expert Viktor explains that Voodoo remains an everyday feature throughout Benin - visible on the streets and with most people's homes featuring aspects of the religion. 15 A statue representing past kings in the town of Ouidah Credit: AFP 15 Snakes are worshipped in the Temple of Pythons Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 A Voodoo priest rides a cow before the animal is sacrificed Credit: AFP Viktor, who is also a Voodoo artefact collector and runs The Viktor Wynd Museum in Hackney, East London, said: "Wherever you go in Benin, everyone has a Voodoo altar and everyone goes to the Voodoo priests. "Each person has one main Voodoo spirit that they serve. "People dressed as Zangbeto do these dances to regulate the spirit world and the world of the living. They're intermediaries with the other world. "There's always something happening so a few weeks before we go we'll WhatsApp the priests and get all sorts of interesting invitations. "There's Voodoo in the Caribbean and it's very underground but in Benin it takes centre stage. That's why people find it so interesting. "It's fought back against the dominance of Muslims and Christians, who have marginalised the religion in other parts of the world." Dark side of religion While tourists in Benin are offered goat meat and trinkets with animal heads, over the years Voodoo sacrifices have been linked to much darker occurrences across the world. Notoriously, in 2001, a young African boy's torso was found in the River Thames in London. His head, arms and legs had been removed. Police investigators at the time believed that the killing was part of a Voodoo ritual. It's believed the body part may have been in the water for up to ten days and tests showed he lived in West Africa shortly before his death. Police believe he was trafficked to the UK, specifically for the purpose of a sacrifice. One factor that linked the torso to Voodoo was it had been carefully dressed in bright orange shorts before being dumped. Police eventually discovered that the colour was seen as powerful and used in specific sacrificial spells by those who practised Voodoo. However, due to the state of the body when it was found and cops facing a wall of silence during their investigation, the mystery remains unsolved. While Benin is credited as being the origin of Voodoo, it has spread to neighbouring countries such as Nigeria, Togo and even the Caribbean. In Togo, Kieran visited the world's biggest Voodoo market, where he found skulls of various animals - including dogs. The traveller spoke to the local Witch Doctor, who said each skull has different properties and are often prescribed to cure illnesses. Kieran said: "That region of the world in particular, I went to the world's biggest Voodoo market in Toga, where you can buy every type of animal skull. "It was a bit creepy, we were walking and there was every skull you can buy. "We spoke to the Witch Doctor, he explained it's normal in this culture. When I posted a video people were horrified but they could be horrified with some of the things in Western culture. "There were Voodoo dolls and spells, he said it is possible to make another person fall in love with you, but I didn't believe it." 15 A Voodoo shrine in Benin Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Another Zangbeto in the streets of the city Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 The market sells macabre charms, skulls and animal skins Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Goat slaughter Every year on January 10 the Vodoun (Voodoo) Festival is celebrated across Benin and especially in the city of Ouidah, where practitioners gather to honour their spirits with sacrifices, dancing and singing. The festival begins with the slaughter of a goat to honour the religion's spirits. The blood is used as an offering to the spirits and the animals - such as chickens, goats, sheep and cows - are then cooked and shared amongst the worshippers. Despite experiencing the 'creepiness' of the voodoo market and rituals, Kieran would recommend Voodoo tourism to Brits who want to explore that part of the world. Meanwhile, Viktor is keen to share his passion for the area and religion with the world and invites those who are intrigued to his museum and to join his unorthodox holiday tours. 15 Viktor Wynd is a collector of Voodoo paraphernalia Credit: Gone With The Wynd
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Turkey teeth' are leaving Brits toothless and in pain but dentists can't help
Travelling for a set of 'Turkey Teeth' may not be all that it seems, with Brits saying they are left with permanent damage, but UK dentists have confirmed they might not be able to help The cosmetic dental treatments infamously done in Turkey, most commonly known as "Turkey teeth," won't be fixed, if needed, by the NHS. Veneers, crowns and full-mouth restorations are part of the dental tourism experience, as the trend soars in popularity with young people. The TikTok hashtag "Turkeyteeth" has over 130 million views, with many Tiktokers opting to film their journeys to Turkey to carry out these procedures. Chosen by many influencers and reality TV stars, the blinding smiles would usually cost a substantial £20,000 in a London clinic. The significance of a 'teeth trip to Turkey' being that its much more cost-effective, or so they'd hoped. Almost a quarter in comparison, Turkey's prices can be between £3,000 - £6,000. Can you reverse turkey teeth? As porcelain veneers require the shaving down of teeth, and therefore enamel, the client will have irreversible enamel loss, leaving the tooth structures without enamel permanently exposed and vulnerable. Many adults in their twenties have taken to TikTok to share their horror stories after what they'd believed was a long-term quick fix. Unfortunately, once a person's enamel is removed, it cannot regenerate. Those who opt for Turkey teeth will need veneers for the rest of their lives, whether they began with healthy teeth before or not. Traditional porcelain veneers cause permanent damage to one's teeth due to the aggressive nature of the procedure, with the risks only increasing if done abroad. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you! What happens after botched turkey teeth? The common misconception is that one appointment applying veneers has you set for life, but that is far from the case. A Qunomedical doctor spoke to WalesOnline, stating that: "Veneers tend to last around 10-15 years. Crowns tend to last 15-20 years and implants will last a lifetime". Severe consequences of Turkey teeth include the need for medical treatment, most likely at a private clinic and thus costing more than the discounted price you initially thought was a bargain of lifetime, says Dr Richard Clinics, London. The clinic adds that problems caused by botched Turkey teeth can include an increase of sensitivity, infection in the gums - due to hygiene being a reoccurring problem - for cheap dental tourism - and even the crowns or veneers falling out. One mum even spoke to WalesOnline about being in "the worst pain of her life" because of a faulty procedure. Will UK dentists repair turkey teeth? The owner of the Shard End Dental Practice in Birmingham, Vijay Sudra spoke to the Mirror and Birmingham Live, sharing how he warned a patient that he could not help them if they got the cosmetic procedure abroad. He said that the "broken and absolutely bonkers" NHS dental system was the cause of dental tourism from the UK. He highlighted how UK dentists would not fix issues resulting from having veneers in another country due to legal fears of being liable for further damage caused. Dr Richard's Clinic supports this, the clinic site stating: "Many people think the NHS will help if something goes wrong, but this is not the case. Although the NHS "will provide any clinically necessary treatment needed to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy and free of pain," this does not include repairing the damage done by a botched cosmetic treatment". When asked to comment on these claims of refusing to fix "botched" cosmetic dental work, an NHS England spokesperson said: "Patients are entitled to NHS dental care if there is a complication or an oral health issue, but the NHS isn't going to – for example – fix an aesthetic issue with veneers as that isn't something the NHS would usually fund anyway". "Self-funded care that the NHS would not routinely fund would not usually be offered or replaced once stabilisation has been achieved".
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Most hated city in Europe' where Brits love to go on holiday
Benidorm is one of Europe's most popular holiday destinations, welcoming some 800,000 British tourists a year - but that doesn't mean it's not also one of the most controversial Benidorm has been branded 'The worst place on Earth' by some, despite the resort town attracting roughly 800,000 British holidaymakers annually. Indeed, for certain travellers, its unenviable title stems precisely because of the influx of Brits each year. This Spanish seaside city, famous for its "strip" crammed with bars and nightclubs, revels in a reputation of limitless revelry where drunken antics and indecent exposure are as typical of the vacation experience as sunshine and sandy shores. YouTuber Ben Morris set off to Benidorm investigating whether its infamous notoriety is merited, pointing out that many attribute the resort's issues primarily to one thing: "Brits abroad." Ben observes that English is far more common than Spanish even in the scenic Old Town, stating: "Lots of people refer to Benidorm as 'Mini Britain,' with the British greatly surpassing the local population." He was taken aback by the sheer number of people thronging the streets, saying: "I knew that this was a popular holiday destination but I was really thrown off by how busy it actually was." However genteel Benidorm seems by day, the night transforms it completely, reports the Express. As darkness falls, encounters with illicit drug peddlers and, curiously, condom vendors become routine, targeting inebriated tourists to splurge their holiday funds. "I just couldn't get over how different the energy was at night-time," Ben said. "It was like feeding time at the zoo with Brits drinking and partying all down the streets." The bustling Calle Gerona is tailored for a certain type of holidaymaker. "It's just crazy walking down the strip; it's pub after pub after sports bar after pub," Ben remarked. One infamous destination in Benidorm, Sticky Vicky's, notorious for its peculiar adult performance involving unexpected objects and a woman's nether regions, remains open even after its founder passed away in 2023. Taking the limelight is María Gadea Aragüés, Vicky's own daughter, who began mastering the unconventional family talent at the tender age of 13. Ben could only stomach roughly 10 minutes of the show before he had to make a swift exit. Yet, for those seeking a break from the brash strip's neon embrace, a short ride away lies the tranquil Altea. "It's a completely different vibe to Benidorm," Ben observes, suggesting it as a serene escape when the risqué antics of Sticky Vicky's become overwhelming.
