A red light means love

By ALASTAIR SLOANE motoring editor




Role of the car continues to figure prominently in the sex lives of motorists, with research showing that millions of British drivers are using traffic jams and traffic lights to put their love lives into top gear.

Nearly half of all motorists admit they openly flirt with the opposite sex while on the road and make the most of hold-ups to woo fellow drivers.

The sex survey findings are revealed in a report to mark the launch of the new-generation Tigra roadster, a fun-loving, two-door soft-top made by General Motors Europe and badged as a Vauxhall in Britain and Opel in Europe.

It is not known if GM will sell the new Tigra through its Holden division in Australia and New Zealand, although Holden has done a case study on the car in the past.

The survey says that up to 2 million people in Britain flirt every day.

Their on-the-road romanticising is paying off, too. Nearly 500,000 admitted ending up in bed with someone and twice that number have exchanged phone numbers.

The research suggests that nearly 150,000 people have even met their husband or wife as a result of being tantalising in traffic.

GM and the Tigra nameplate teamed up with British body language expert Tracey Cox to provide top tips on how to meet the man and woman of your dreams while on the road.

And according to Cox, driving and flirting go hand in hand and a sexy car can be a short cut to meeting Mr or Ms Right.

She said: "For a start, you've got a captive audience, they're trapped, albeit just for a few minutes. There's no risk they'll be rushing off to buy a drink, popping to the loo or about to be chatted up by someone else.

"Their and your judgment is also sound, since you're both sober and unaffected by alcohol. Neither of you have beer goggles on and it's not the drink making you say or do things you don't mean.

"Finally, our actions have no consequences. If the person doesn't want to flirt back or openly rejects us, the humiliation factor is low because all we need to do is put our foot to the metal, flick the switch and put the roof back up and we're outta there!"

The Tigra study showed that fun is the main motivation for flirting - only 11 per cent do it because they are bored.

Also, men are bigger flirts in cars than women, smiling is the most popular tactic with 41 per cent of drivers, winding a window down to grab attention comes second, while blowing a kiss through the windscreen comes third.

Men and women between 25 and 35 are the most prolific flirts on the road, but women are more likely than men to rev their engines as a sign they're interested.

And a sexy car is one way to catch the attention of a roving eye, the study shows.

More than 20 per cent of respondents think a flashy car makes a person look sexier, and nearly 60 per cent reckon convertibles are a turn-on.

It boils down to flirts being seven times more likely to succeed in an open top car than a four-wheel-drive.

Said Cox: "They're topless for a start. We associate open top cars with young, fun people. If sedans are the one-piece swimsuit, convertibles are the bikini.

"There's another obvious reason why people in open top cars are seen as sexy - we can see them clearly. Instead of a semi-obscured view of head and shoulders, we get to see much more of their body.

"Two-seaters like the Tigra can also show that a woman or guy is looking for someone special to occupy their prized passenger seat.

"The added gadgetry of an automatic roof gives drivers a handy device to show off that they've got the latest wheels."

10 RULES FOR FLIRTS

1. A slow and secretive smile is sexier than a broad grin.

2. Count the looks. They'll glance at you once out of curiosity, to see if you're worth looking at. You'll get a second look if they liked what they saw and a third if they're impressed. If you're interested, do the same.

3. Count the seconds. Stuck in traffic, we tend to look at strangers for three seconds or less. If someone's tossing you continual four-second gazes, it's a good sign they're keen.

4. Play an adult game of peekaboo in the rear-view mirror. Stare into the mirror, lock eyes for a count of one-two-three-four, then shyly duck your head. If they're interested, they'll be watching and waiting to see if you reappear.

5. Attract attention. But once you've got their attention, stop whatever it is you're doing, lock eyes and give a tiny smile. Then drag your eyes away.

6. Go for it. The golden rule of flirting in the fast lane is to act quickly.

7. Send an "I'm yours" signal. Take off your sunglasses and put the ends in your mouth. Let them see your tongue.

8. Stroke your neck or upper chest lightly with your fingertips - a definite erotic signal. Up the potency by pulling your hair away from the side of the neck exposed to them. Do it absentmindedly.

9. Make your move. Raise your eyebrows and mouth 'Do you want my number?' If you're cheeky, you'll jump out of your car and deliver it through their window with a wicked grin.

10. Exit gracefully. The trick to leaving them wanting more is to look like you've had fun but couldn't care less if they call you or not.