I’m an etiquette expert – these are the driving habits that make you look tacky and how to avoid it
AN ELEGANCE expert has revealed the common driving habits that motorists should avoid if they want to be classy behind the wheel.
Her top tips include singing too loudly, eating, and “harvesting your nostrils while stuck in traffic”.
YouTube star Anna Bey shared her elegance advice in a video to her 1.3 million subscribers.
She even claims that driving an expensive car doesn’t guarantee that you are a high-class driver.
She said: “These driving etiquette rules that only elegant people know and follow.
“Please know ladies, I am not a driving instructor and neither is this video about how to drive a car correctly.
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“I’m just sharing those elegance mistakes that happen on the road so that you avoid them for ultimate class and elegance.”
Smoking a cigarette is considered the height of unsophisticated driving etiquette, and she also revealed that “in Europe” people don’t make a habit of eating in their car.
Top tips to elegant driving
Stop picking your nose while driving
The London-based class guru said she “doesn’t understand why people think they are invisible in their cars”.
While she admits there may be a time to “harvest your nostrils”, behind the wheel is not one of them.
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Instead, she recommends you pick your nose somewhere more private instead.
Anna added: “One thing that I don’t understand is that why is it that as soon as someone is, let’s say stuck in traffic or at a red light, it’s like it gives them this fabulous idea of now there’s this golden opportunity to start cleaning my nose?”
Avoid eating behind the wheel
While a sneaky drive-thru is a common guilty pleasure, Anna said those looking to improve their driving etiquette should cut out the habit.
The coach said she “doesn’t understand” the culture of a drive-thru, and said it’s not really something “people do in Europe”.
Anna said she she has seen some “filthy” cars in her time, and insisted it “says a lot about someone” when you see what state they keep their car in.
She added: ” I mean, sure, if we are on a road trip, if we are really short of time… Occasionally it does happen for all of us that we have to snack in the car.
Ultimate elegance is to always be conscious of your meal times, to properly sit down, to not sit and eat behind the steering wheel
Anna Bey
“Because what does it say about a person? You go and check out their car and it’s a complete mess – they have take-away boxes and dirty laundry in there.”
Don’t pop that spot
Anna said popping a zit while stuck in traffic can be a tell-tale sign of an tasteless motorist – and can even ruin your look in an expensive car.
She revealed a “horror story” to demonstrate, telling the tale of the time she pulled up next to a “handsome man in a luxurious car” only for him to ruin the moment by popping a spot.
“He didn’t think anyone saw him so he started popping his pimple… He wiped his face and then drove off. What do you think about that, my dear, elegant ladies?”
Tame your road rage
Losing your cool behind the wheel is one of Anna’s biggest elegance no-no’s.
The class coach explained how tailgating someone, honking the horn or shouting things from the car is a “strange phenomenon”, as people tend to get “more aggressive” when they are inside their cars.
She said: “All of us, we have witnessed this at some point, aggressive driving.
“Why is it that as soon as the person steps into this well protected little metal cage, they think that they’re invisible?
“What is it that on the road, people forget everything about manners and etiquette?”
Don’t smoke or vape
One of the elegance coach’s golden rules is avoiding smoking or vaping when driving, as she said it doesn’t look “refined”.
She warned her viewers “just don’t do it”, adding: “Smoking is not the most elegant behavior for no person out there, but if you have got to do it, then do it just be discreet about it.
“However, one thing that certainly doesn’t look elegant or refined is when you are smoking inside your car, it doesn’t matter if it’s a vape, a cigarette or something else.
“Don’t smoke it, ladies.”
No carpool karaoke
Although everyone likes a good sing-song in the car, Anna included, she said elegance should stop you from belting one out behind the wheel.
Anna added: “Don’t do this because again, you’re not invisible in a metal cage. People can actually see you, but also hear you.
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“Even if you have your windows closed!”
She said the same applied to music volume: “Some people think it’s absolutely appropriate to put the volume so loud in their car that the entire street is going to hear it.”