Electric Picnic : Roadtrips dos and donts

Smoking and farting most likely to get you kicked out of the car

Crack a window if you feel a fart coming on and don’t light up a smoke if you want a harmonious car journey to Stradbally. The light hearted advice aimed at Electric Picnic Festival goers comes from the AA who in their last poll quizzed almost 3,600 drivers on the passenger behaviours which most get under their skin.

Of a list of 14 behaviours presented to the AA’s Poll participants, which ranged from incessant talking to not offering to chip in for fuel and tolls, smoking was identified as the most loathed behaviour. 58% of the poll’s respondents said they’d boot their passenger out if they started smoking without their permission.

Human stink bombs are not well liked either. Flatulent passengers came second to the inconsiderate smokers in the popularity stakes according to the AA’s Poll results. Half of drivers said someone parping away in the confined space of their car would bother them no end while another 20% said they’d kick their passenger out of the car. Some respondents did however qualify their response saying their reaction would depend on how pungent the fart; cider drinkers be warned.

Stig of the dump types aren’t best liked by drivers either. 91% of those polled said they’d be irritated by a passenger who leaves a pile of sweet wrappers and other rubbish in their wake. Electric Picnic goers again take head, it’s not nice to litter and you may find yourself having to make alternative arrangement to get home.

“Humour aside, an annoyed driver is a distracted driver. Try and be a considerate passenger and don’t drive your driver nuts, they have an important job to do.” Says Miriam O’Neill, AA Press Officer

Switch the dial at your own peril too music lovers. More than half of the drivers polled by the AA said it really gets their goat when a passenger commandeers their radio. It’s ok to have an old sing song on the way to or from the festival though reveals the AA. 70% of those polled are happy enough for their passengers to belt out a few good tunes when on a road trip.

Weary festival goers are ok to have a snooze too on the way home provided they’re not the designated driver of course. Of the 14 activities listed sleeping emerged as the least annoying thing that a passenger can do.

“While your lucky passengers can pass out on the drive home you don’t have that luxury so be sure to take care of yourself if you’re the designated driver.” Says O’ Neill. “Tuck yourself up into your sleeping bag, pop in some ear plugs and get a good night’s sleep on the last night.”

The AA offers one last word of wisdom for festival goers – don’t get your cat stuck in the mud. Of the 3,600 drivers the AA spoke to during their most recent online poll 1 in 4 said they had found themselves in the predicament at some stage.

AA Patrols will be on standby in the Stradbally area over the weekend to deal with the usual spate of festival breakdowns they see around any big breakdowns.

Above photograph taken by Gregory Nolan.

Q.It’s road trip season and many of us will be doing long drives with passengers. Using the 5 point scale below, which best describes your reaction to the following actions by passengers who are travelling in your car:

(Based on 3,615 responses captured via online poll in July 2014)