Thoughts from fellow business people in the UK!

[Marty]

Hello,

I am coming to you from the States, and was interested in what the business people of the U.K. thought of our product. My brother Dave and I have started a business that sells driving safety labels. The company is called Patience Please LLC. This company was formed out of need my brother Dave saw while driving with his 15-year-old daughter who is presently driving on her learners permit. Dave was surprised by the general rudeness and unkind nature of so many of the drivers on the road. I'm sure many of you have experienced the same type of situation. In discussions between the two of us the brainchild of this company was formed. We thought that if surrounding drivers were made aware of the situation before them, they would tend to be more courteous and tolerant. This is how we came up with the Patience Please moniker. Moreover, we thought why should we stop with the young driver that is learning how to drive, so we have expanded our label selection to include the elderly and disabled/handicapped drivers as well. Please take a look at our website, it delves more into our goal to cultivate courtesy and reduce road rage where ever it happens. It is our belief that "Awareness Brings Patience"! If this is something you think would be beneficial, please help us by spreading the word. Furthermore, any comments or suggestion you may have would be greatly appreciated. I would like to thank you in advance for your time, consideration and any help you can provide.
:D

[fastfences]

Hi Marty, and welcome to the Forum.
I may come across as negative on this. I applaud your initiative and effort, but I don't believe a sticker is going to change or alter the driving habits of many. In fact, it could work to the contrary by further advertising the fact that an 'obsticle' is in the way.

Before elaborating on that, I believe the driving etiquette is far better in Britain than America. Despite holidaying in Califiornia for only one year, I felt an attitude of 'we own the road' by many drivers. Certainly the same could be said of UK, but to a far lesser degree. Actually, aggression is very prevalent in the eastern states of Australia, too.

We have vehicles with 'disabled driver', 'baby on board' and similar 'warnings'. I don't think it makes one bit of difference. Sure, it can be infuriating that an 'old codger' is doing 20mph along the highway whilst looking for the false teeth he dropped, or a woman returning from shopping while trying to calm her crying child. They are both hazards, and they both bring out the worst in some drivers!

I wonder if you could get endorsement from one of the motoring organisations?
Good luck with your venture, Regards, Nigel

[Eagle]

*
I'd have to agree with Nigel.

I also don't think it would catch on in the UK because, by and large, we're not that keen on adorning our vehicles with tacky/vulgar stickers as seen in so many other countries.

Good luck though.

Mark :)

[creacom]

Hi Marty

Welcome to the forum and best of luck with your business.

I agree with Nigel on this one too.

Jacqui :D

[Claire B]

I'm going to stick my neck out here and disagree with all of the above :D

I also experienced less tolerance whilst driving in America, but if anything this will help your business idea, not hinder it.

If first time drivers in the States (along with the elderly and other less confident drivers) feel intimidated as you say, then there is your market.

It doesn't matter whether it actually has the desired effect or not, people will probably still buy them (liken it to vitamin pills, the vast majority of people dont actually need them, and they are of dubious benefit anyway, but we still buy them and the vitamin industry is gigantic!)

In the UK, there is a trend to put a sticker in your car with 'Mum to Be' or 'Baby on Board' displayed on the rear windscreen. I doubt very much if this results in less accidents or acts of aggression, but everyone still buys them, they are everywhere!

Looking at your home page though, i didn't feel that it was very eye catching and the sticker images are very small, perhaps you could enlarge them and make them a more prominent feature on the home page. I don't think you need to include too much information, they kind of speak for themselves.

Perhaps you should look at this from a different angle, I don't think you are actually going to 'cultivate courtesy' as you put it, but there is definately a market there if you are prepared to prey on peoples insecurities.

Good Luck :D :D :D

[caroline]

Hi and welcome!
While I agree I really don't like the "baby on board" stickers, I do try to have a degree of patience with slow drivers. The road to our house is very winding and not safe to overtake on. A ten minute drive can turn into a 25 minute drive if I get caught behind a slow / elderly / learner driver. This happens a lot! The only way I can have patience with the driver in front is to think "this could be my Dad, Mum, or one day, my daughter or son in front." so I allow them the same courtesy I would like allowed to my relatives.
If your stickers make a difference and help people good luck to you. :D

[caroline]

Oh, and PS I meant to add, all the times I've been to America I've had my wits scared out of me while I've been trying to cross the road! Think pedestrians need more help than the drivers, or maybe it was just me they were trying to run over! :wink:

[fastfences]

I'm going to stick my neck out here and disagree with all of the above :D
Good Luck :D :D :D

Interesting insight, Claire B.
Just shows the value of a froum. I looked at the product in a 'Will it work?' angle, whereas you looked at it from a 'Will it make money?' perspective. I guess it could be said that there's two motivators behind each of our stances. Changing a behavioural pattern or making money.

The two view seem to be correct and I do have to agree that the stickers will earn, maybe not a fortune, but I guess that depends upon the 'gullibility' of our esteemed American friends! :wink: How many football and basketball stickers are plastered all over vehicles!!

Anyway, Marty, If you do one such as, 'Beware - Woman at the Wheel' could you mail me one?
cheers, Nigel

[Claire B]

Anyway, Marty, If you do one such as, 'Beware - Woman at the Wheel' could you mail me one?
cheers, Nigel

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :wink:

[Urban Space]

Welcome :D! Haven't read any of the above by the way! :lol:!

Anything I can help with, give me a shout :D!

Liam

[Admiral Collections]

Welcome :D! Haven't read any of the above by the way! :lol:!

Anything I can help with, give me a shout :D!

Liam

Liam, I find that reply the height of rudeness. You could have just said welcome and left it at that. Possibly you could 'help' the newcomer by keeping your posts to a minimum.

Anyway, back to the discussion. I detest baby on board, babe on board, hunk on board, bored housewife, or any 'board' for that matter. A sticker I think would be less irritating but alas, I don't think it would encourage a 'mad driver' to change his/her ways.

Good luck though with your idea though.

NIc :wink:

[Cornish Steve]

We add occasional stickers to our cars. For example, we added the following to one of our former cars: "Please honk if anything falls off." Some people did!

Unfortunately, some people add stickers to cars to display their religious beliefs. Often I find these drivers to be impatient and rude - and not a good advertisement for their community.

[Urban Space]

Lol didn't mean anything by it! :D! You still love me, don't you Nic? :lol:!

Sorry Marty :(!

Liam

[Marty]

First, I want to thank you all for your straight forward comments and constructive criticism. It is greatly appreciated. In my regular day job I deal with a lot of Brits and have always found your sense of humor and ability to cut to the quick refreshing. Please keep the comments coming.

Nigel......we'll have to work on getting you the sticker you proposed. We have actually thrown around the idea of creating a page for novelty stickers. Maybe we should look at that a little closer.

Claire B & Caroline.....Thanks for your words of encouragement.

Liam.....Nic might not love you, but you don't have to worry about me being offended.

Thanks again to all of you. I'm very glad I came across this forum. Many of the forums originating here in the States are stuffing and so self proclaiming. At times it is impossible to real get a good feel for what people think.

[Claire B]

It's my pleasure :D

although if you even think about taking Nigel up on his idea, I will storm off :wink:

by the way, sorry,.........I didn't mean to come across as being disrepectful to American drivers, it's much much worse in London :shock:

[Urban Space]

Lol and I'll storm off with you! :lol:!

Liam

[Cornish Steve]

by the way, sorry,.........I didn't mean to come across as being disrepectful to American drivers, it's much much worse in London :shock:
If you really want some fun, watch American drivers in the UK try to navigate a roundabout. Alternatively, watch British drivers in the US figure out the meaning of a red-and-orange traffic light (it is not part of the ready-set-go sequence).

[Claire B]

Even better then that, spend 3 months in the States as I did, getting used to the fact that you could make a right turn on Red, then come back to the UK and forget that it's a different set of rules :oops: :oops:

[RSL]

Hello,

I really like the sentiment behind the idea and its a very valid one. In the UK we have Red L plates and Green P plates to show levels of a new driver as well as stickers for Disabled drivers, unfortunately some drivers are still very impatient. I can definitely see how these would work if they bacame nationally used and recognised.

Good luck with it all!

[Marty]

Sorry Nigel……Claire B has laid down the law. I am really starting to like this forum of yours. The last thing I want is to get stormed off. BTW…I have been on the receiving side of the wrath of a woman and believe me it isn’t pretty…….LOL! I hope all of you have a wonderful week, and as I said before please keep the comments & suggestions coming. :D

[axisadman]

Reminds me of all the "well we have corners" jibes. Owning an American motorcycle that feels it should be articulated kind of confirms it for me!

Anyway good luck with the stickers Marty. By the way one of the best bumper stickers I ever saw was "My other car is a piece of s**t too!" Trouble is I don't have a Porsche to put it on!

[Urban Space]

Oops! I've just read this post and I don't blame you Nic! Sincere apologies :(!

As for the stickers, I'm dreading leaving the field in which I'm prancing about now for the open road when I'm 17. I can certainly see a demand for these stickers.

Sorry again! :(! Liam

[Jayne]

Hi Marty,

Welcome to the forum :D

Jayne

[webit]

Hi and welcome!
While I agree I really don't like the "baby on board" stickers, I do try to have a degree of patience with slow drivers. The road to our house is very winding and not safe to overtake on. A ten minute drive can turn into a 25 minute drive if I get caught behind a slow / elderly / learner driver. This happens a lot! The only way I can have patience with the driver in front is to think "this could be my Dad, Mum, or one day, my daughter or son in front." so I allow them the same courtesy I would like allowed to my relatives.
If your stickers make a difference and help people good luck to you. :D

I was told once that the baby on board signs were so that in the event of a crash the fire bridgade knew to look in the back of the car.

[Cornish Steve]

I was told once that the baby on board signs were so that in the event of a crash the fire bridgade knew to look in the back of the car.
I thought the back seat is where most women drive from? (time to duck)

[EDS]

Just my thoughts on this, arn't these very similar to the L plates we currently have? I think although a few drivers keep a big distance because they are aware that anything could happen, the majority of drivers see this a signal that the car in front will in slow so it is time to overtake or make some other danerous stunt so they are not 'following another learner' my cousin and her mates are all taking their tests at the moment and the first thing they do when they pass is rip the L plates off, so I just can't see people paying for something that don't have to have.
I am sorry if this sounds negitive and would love to be proved wrong, I just know it isn't something myslef or my friends would buy.
How are sales going in the US?

[WomenXtra]

I also think someone needs to raise awareness in the UK and teach some of those drivers (if they do have these labels) like: new driver or Patience Please CAUTIOUS DRIVER - they should stick with the left lane. Sadly you see them driving in the middle of the road and blocking the road with their slow driving.

not sure how you can tackle that, but I for one, would buy a label that says (stick to left lane if your a slow driver) and then drive in front that car slow nerve killer car to pass the message to them. lol

[rtBizopo]

There has been many a times I've thought of having a display board in my rear window that I can select at a press of a button to display:
- "Thank you" (when someone gives way or is courteous)
- "You need an L plate" (when someone straddles lanes or really doesn't know how to drive)
- "You outta be shot" (for those who are pratically driving on our rear end!)

and so forth. The one I'd love the most is:
- "You're a good driver" for those few who do things right, are calm and you know are not just driving but overall have a good road sense!

Just my 2 pence/cents worth!