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Passenger smoking 'annoys drivers most'

17/10/07

The most annoying habit that a passenger in a car can have is smoking, a wide-ranging new poll has discovered.

A poll commissioned by the classified ads website Craigslist and carried out by YouGov found that smoking was twice as annoying as backseat driving.

Those surveyed found listening to The Archers and opening the window too much or too little just as annoying as each other.

Jim Buckmaster, chief executive of Craigslist, said: "Ride-sharing on the net is booming.

"But we urge those considering it to try and find out first whether their prospective fellow passengers are likely to prove compatible."

He went on to say that he does not listen to The Archers himself, but knows that some people find it "deeply annoying".

Recently, the Highway Code warned that drivers caught smoking could be prosecuted - something that could mean higher car insurance premiums.

And on the first of July this year the smoking ban for England came into effect. This includes smoking in a work vehicle if there is another person present.

Talking on a mobile phone, listening to an iPod too loudly or wearing a strong fragrance were also listed by drivers as annoying habits.

Additionally, the survey found that littering in the vehicle and talking too much were also on most drivers' list of the most annoying habits.

An annoying passenger could possibly lead to a distracted driver who will end up speeding, being caught and having to pay higher car insurance premiums.

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