Commuters who sneeze and cough without covering their faces have been named as among the bad habits that fellow passengers hate most. Talking loudly on the phone, playing loud music and putting feet on seats were other bad habits that most annoy fellow passengers, according to the survey.
Research by tombola asked what annoys people when travelling to and from work and whether this plays a part in them wanting to be in the office. Chewing loudly and not respecting someone’s personal space by sitting next to them when there are other seats are other examples of poor etiquette that gets up workers’ noses.
The number one gripe is people speaking loudly on the phone, with almost half (42%) of working Brits regarding this as the most infuriating thing that can happen on a commute. The second big no-no, at 39%, is when people play music out loud, a trend also known among younger generations as ‘bare beating’.
The third cardinal commuting sin for more than a third (34%) of people is when folk sneeze or cough without covering their face.
Other poor etiquette includes people having their feet on the seats (29%), chewing loudly (24%) and anti-social behaviour (22%)
With the average commute to work taking 27 minutes, there’s plenty of time to experience this frustrating behaviour. More than half (51%) of all British commuters will experience a pet peeve at least once a week. A further quarter (24%) claiming they must endure them on multiple occasions a week.
Around a third (31%) of commuting Brits would react by merely sitting there in silence, but simmering silently with anger. However, one in ten (10%), who aren’t as relaxed, say they would confront the person demanding an explanation for their poor behaviour.
Putting the shoe on the other foot, a shocking one in five (20%) questioned admitted to committing one of these pet peeves themselves while on their way to work. British working habits are constantly evolving to adapt to the changing demands of work-life pressures.
The survey revealed that only 7% of working Brits have never commuted to work, meaning the majority will be exposed to these grumbles at some point in their career. But since Covid, most working Brits have adopted a ‘hybrid’ policy, with a quarter (25%) saying they commute less than once a week.
For those who do commute, half (50%) say they take the train, with the average train journey taking 63 minutes. More than a third of commuters (36%) say they take other forms of rail such as the tube or tram to get to work, while one in ten (10%) spend at least £50 a week commuting by car.
Those working in agriculture are the biggest offenders of commuting pet peeves, with three in five (59%) saying they have committed a pet peeve, much greater than the national average of one in five (20%). On the other hand, retail workers are the most unlikely to commit a commuting pet peeve, with around one in nine (11%) claiming they have.
According to the study, marketing professionals experience these the least, with two-thirds claiming they commute less than once a week, less than any other industry. Laura Akano, Etiquette Expert at Polished Manners, said: “When travelling to work it’s important to remember that public transport is a shared space – not an extension of your own home.
“Good etiquette goes a long way to ensure a smoother, more pleasant journey for everyone. Some of the golden rules of etiquette when using public transport are to avoid sitting on priority seats, always have your ticket ready and keep your bags and feet off the seats.
“Don’t bring or eat food with strong smells, as the smell will linger and make the environment uncomfortable for other passengers, and if eating food try to do it as respectfully as possible. If someone is being inconsiderate on your commute, make sure to use discretion.
“It’s okay to politely ask someone to move their bag if it’s on a seat but for more serious issues it’s safer to alert staff members. If possible, move to another carriage or wait for the next transport to arrive.
“Poor commuting etiquette can have a bigger impact than people realise – it can leave passengers feeling stressed, irritable or emotionally drained. For some, if the experience is so unpleasant, they will begin to avoid public transport altogether to protect their general wellbeing, fostering a ‘work from home’ culture.”
Samantha Wilcox, Organic Manager at tombola, said: “Our research focuses on the everyday frustrations of commuting, shining a light on some of the nation’s biggest pet peeves. Your morning sets the tone for the entire day and the commute to work can significantly influence how the rest of the day unfolds.
“By highlighting what British workers find frustrating, we’re hoping to make it a more pleasant journey for everyone, with a healthy dose of humour thrown in. Because, let’s face it, commuting could do with a bit more politeness here and there.”
UK’S TOP 10 BIGGEST COMMUTING PET PEEVES
1. Speaking loudly on the phone – 42%
2. Playing music out loud – 39%
3. Sneezing/coughing without covering your face – 34%
4. Feet on seats – 29%
5. Eating/chewing loudly – 24%
6. Anti-social behaviour – 22%
7. Sitting next to someone even when there are other seats available (lack of personal space) – 20%
8. Leaving rubbish behind – 18%
9. Not waiting in turn – 17%
10. Eating pungent food – 14%
TOP FIVE ‘OFFENDING INDUSTRIES’ OF COMMUTER PET PEEVES
1. Agriculture – 59%
2. Tech – 34%
3. Art – 33%
4. Construction – 31%
5. Food – 27%
