Queuing Northern Ireland people are the most patient in the UK, a commercial survey claimed today.
They are prepared to stand and wait for 23 minutes, longer than anywhere else, before losing their temper, the research revealed.
Greg Twitcher, vice president of Visa UK which commissioned the research, said: "It comes down to the fact that when people are purchasing goods they are not prepared to wait in places like London but perhaps that is not seen to the same extent in Northern Ireland.
"It is also the case that many people do a lot of queuing without really noticing it, like for lifts, every day.
"There are more options available now in terms of shopping on line and I think people who use those services widely are less tolerant of delays caused by queuing."
Once angered, the research found people are quick to complain or leave the line. It also revealed almost half those surveyed this summer found children misbehaving in queues annoying.
Some 87 per cent rate people who jump the queue as the greatest irritation.
The average person goes through a range of emotions in a line ranging from irritation after as little as eight minutes to full-blown anger within 24 minutes.
Women are most sensitive to queue pressure where people behind try to force them to speed up. Men are the most impatient queuers with 69 per cent hating unnecessary delay, the survey said.
The average adult spends 18 minutes per day in a queue or 273 days over a lifetime.
"There are now more options for shoppers and increasingly people are selecting ways to make their shopping experience easier from late night shopping, purchasing online or using unattended [automated] checkouts."
Chip and Pin technology has already speeded card transactions and contactless technology to be introduced next year will allow people to pay by waving their card in front of a scanner.
PA