YOU might want to think twice about going out today - it's Friday the 13th.

The day is traditionally associated with bad luck and a third of Britons are petrified by it.

In fact, this phobia is so common in Britain that it now has its own special name, Triskaidekaphobia - a fear of Friday 13th.

Here's the numbers:

  • 74 per cent of adults say they have suffered from bad luck on a previous Friday 13th
  • 40 per cent of Britons are superstitious and will be taking some form of proactive action to avoid any form of bad luck coming their way. This includes: not travelling, rescheduling an important meeting, changing a dentist appointment, avoiding mirrors and ladders or putting off a big purchase like a car
  • The 6th day of the week, Friday, and the number 13 are each considered to be unlucky in their own right, and when combined they are doubly bad
  • 50 per cent of British adults believe in the power of lucky numbers and will always use their personal lucky number to help them get ahead in life
  • 68 percent of adults are so superstitious about Friday 13th that they cannot get through the day without some kind of gesture to bring them good luck. This includes: throwing salt over their shoulders, saying good morning to a magpie when it crosses their path and searching for a black cat so that it crosses their path with good luck.
  • 65 per cent of British adults believe having a lucky number brings them good fortune with the most popular number being seven.
  • 52 per cent reported that their birth date is their most powerful lucky number and they will and use this number as much as they can in daily life to bring them good luck

These findings were revealed in a report by Travelodge who surveyed 2,500 British adults to seek their views on whether they believe certain numbers bring them good or bad luck.

Travelodge hotel managers also said that they regularly have customers who will not stay in room 13 – especially on Friday 13th.

After the number 13, Travelodge hotel managers reported room 101 is the second least requested room number and room 666 is the third least popular number.

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge spokeswoman said: “Our research shows that Britons certainly believe in the power of numbers and will use their lucky number to get ahead in life and avoid the number 13 at all costs.