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:
- Tailgating
- Road rage
- Vehicles filled with stuffed toys
- 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
- Driving with gloves on
- Watching someone unsuccessfully parallel park
- When someone honks the second the traffic light goes green
- Playing loud music with the window down
- When drivers speed through puddles, splashing pedestrians
- Honking while in a traffic queue
- When someone revs their engine while at a red light or while stopped
- Driving extremely slowly below the speed limit
- Stopping too far away from a ticket machine at car park / toll road and unable to reach the ticket
- Having windscreen wipers on their fastest mode when it is only drizzling
- Filling the car with fuel using gloves
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