Tweeters turn to car grime
The Twitter generation are spreading their creativity from the net and using car grime as a compliment to social networking tools.
Car accessory retailer Halfords has discovered a surge in writing witty slogans into the dust of unkempt cars, vans and lorries.
The social trend was revealed when customers started Tweeting ditties they had seen on the backs on vehicles and it shows how people increasingly look to start conversations in a public forum, using whatever medium comes to hand.
Instead of the once commonly seen “clean me”, “wash me” or “ouch” next to a bump, and the names of favourite football teams, messages now range from jokey social commentaries to ongoing banter.
The practice even has street names and is known as “dust tagging” and “grime writing”.
Halfords carried out a survey among 1020 motorists and 55 per cent of those asked said they were seeing more slogans on vehicles during their travels.
62 per cent said they found the remarks amusing, while 28 per cent found them annoying. Over eight out of ten (82 per cent) said they would be embarrassed if a message was left on their vehicle and it would encourage them to wash their car. A small 4 per cent thought if the remark was funny enough they would leave it for others to see.
Halfords Car Cleaning Expert David Howells said: “Generally we encourage motorists to regularly wash and polish their cars because it helps preserve their value. However these witticisms and commentaries can lighten the day, especially when stuck in traffic jams. And because cars travel long distances and are seen by a lot of people – they are a great way of getting your message out there.”
In an attempt to compile a list of the country’s funniest, Halfords carried out a random cross -country check on slogans.
One of the favourites was seen in Abingdon, Oxon, where a girl dumped her partner via car graffiti, telling him: “ We are so over”, in large letters on the dirt of his back window. A week later he still hadn’t washed his car.
A prison van outside Pentonville Jail had “I fought the law, but the law won!” written across the back doors while a sewage tanker in Cardiff was spotted bearing the words: “No stools left overnight” on its side.
People also vent their anger with messages on vehicles. One such missive said "Leave your van across my driveway again, and I'll torch it."
Matt Chapman from trends website Inhabitat.com confirmed the practice of grime writing is growing in popularity. He said: “Taking a cue from the “Wash Me” messages scrawled on the back of delivery trucks, they seek out grime covered surfaces and inscribe them with images, tags, and even advertising slogans.”
"When the time comes wipe the car clean," continues David Howells, " Halfords has a wide range of car cleaning products at great value."
Halfords’ Top Ten of favourite gags seen on the backs of dirty cars:
1. “I wish my wife was this dirty!”
Underneath in different writing: “she is when she’s with me!” - London
2. “Cleaned by the NHS”
underneath added: “Cleaned by Stevie Wonder”
and underneath that: “ And Driven by Ray Charles!” - York
3. “I’ll be home for Christmas – I hope” - Dover
4. “Also available in white” on a dirty white van - London
5. “What would Freud say” – on the back of a sports car” - Oxford
6. “My car may be old and dirty but it’s in front of you” – M1
7. “This isn’t just dirt – this is M&S organic dirt” - Newbury.
8. “Do not clean – test dirt” – M1
9. “Dead body inside…shhhh!” on rear window with arrow pointing to the boot - London.
10. “We are so over! – Paige”. Written on Paige’s now, ex-boyfriend’s car - he didn’t notice for several days as the motor was left unwashed – Abingdon.
