LONDON: It may not be possible in most Indian cities, but do give a second thought the next time you opt for an accommodation in a bustling locality, for a study in Britain has revealed that busy roads mean "fewer friends".
Researchers at University of the West of England have carried out the study and found that people living on streets with a lot of traffic actually have 75 per cent fewer friends than those residing in quiet areas.
In fact, the study has showed that householders who endure constant car noise suffer a "considerable deterioration of their local social lives", leading British newspaper the 'Daily Mail' reported.
For their study, the researchers investigated three streets in north Bristol with light, medium and heavy traffic and the relative loneliness of people living there.
They found that road traffic, which has grown more than tenfold in Britain since 1951, tends to isolate and act as a barrier between neighbours. As a result, the chances of making a new companion in a traffic-heavy street are just a quarter as good as they would be in a tranquil village.
"Interviews with residents indicate that growing motor traffic has forced people to make major adjustments in their lives, to shield against the nearly constant noise, pollution, dust and danger outside their front doors.
"Many residents revealed that they experience sleep disturbances, no longer spend time in the front of their homes and curtail the independence of their kids in response to motor traffic.
"This study shows the deterioration of neighbouring in this country may well be down to our own travel habits. We created this problem, and now we have a responsibility to solve it," lead researcher Joshua Hart said.
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