Tailgating named No.1 relationship spoiler - Select Car Leasing
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Tailgating named No.1 relationship spoiler

Tailgating has been named the driving behaviour most likely to end a relationship, a new study by Fiat has found.


The Italian firm says it has long been ‘synonymous with love and romance’.

But cars don’t always equate to endearment.

Following a poll of 2,000 people in the UK, tailgating - ie, driving too close to the car in front - was named the ultimate relationship ‘ick’ - with ‘ick’ being a modern term for something someone does that’s an instant turnoff.

Runner up in the ick list was ‘road rage’, while fumbling your shopping can also lead to love life woes.


A spokesperson for the manufacturer said: 

Fiat 500 has long been synonymous with romance, with many couples opting for the iconic car as a way of transport to and from their big day.
“We hope that our findings help couples acknowledge some of the biggest car icks to avoid a faux pas with their partner.
“For drivers of all-electric 500, the car offers a few gizmos which can alleviate fears for drivers over falling victim to some of the biggest car icks, such as its parking technologies, e-latch fitted doors and quiet electric power train.”

The ick - a term apparently first coined by former Love Island contestant Olivia Attwood - appears to be no laughing matter.

The Fiat survey found more than a third of people (40%) are suffering from ‘the ick’ when they’re in relationships, with 74% of those subsequently breaking up with a partner.

The ick can come quick, too.

Around 14 per cent of women said they’d break up with someone after just a day due to the ick, while 7% of men said the same.


Top 15 car icks:

  1. Tailgating
  2. Road rage
  3. Vehicles filled with stuffed toys
  4. When people return to their cars with their hands full and struggle to get the door open and end up dropping everything from their hands
  5. Driving with gloves on
  6. Watching someone unsuccessfully parallel park
  7. When someone honks the second the traffic light goes green
  8. Playing loud music with the window down
  9. When drivers speed through puddles, splashing pedestrians
  10. Honking while in a traffic queue
  11. When someone revs their engine while at a red light or while stopped
  12. Driving extremely slowly below the speed limit
  13. Stopping too far away from a ticket machine at car park / toll road and unable to reach the ticket
  14. Having windscreen wipers on their fastest mode when it is only drizzling
  15. Filling the car with fuel using gloves


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Wednesday, 13/11/2024