SOME motorists drive their passengers to distraction with how untidy their car is.

But it turns out piles of litter in the footwell and dirty splodges on the upholstery are nowhere near as grim as what’s lurking in messy cars when you look at them under the microscope.

To find out exactly how filthy the average UK car is, used car dealer Cazoo carried out a forensic analysis on one woman’s motor.

The swabs found the steering wheel, door handles and gear stick covered in organisms usually found in animal guts.

And they also showed mould spreading through the seats.

“I was pretty shocked – it’s not nice at all,” Elysha Sevier, who owns the tested car.

“I was pretty grossed out, I’m not going to lie.”

But with the average UK driver cleaning their car fewer than five times a year on average, microscopic nasties can be found in cars up and down the country.

Here’s how filthy your car really is.

‘Poo bacteria’ infestation

Elysha, 30, describes herself as a generally clean and tidy person – but nothing could have prepared her for what the team found on swabs collected from her Citroën C2.

The results found her car covered in organisms called coliforms, normally found in the guts of humans and animals – and their waste.

“I myself work at a forensic lab,” Elysha says. “It’s not completely what I’m used to, but I am used to quite shocking things.”

Although coliforms aren’t usually harmful to people, they can cause disease if found in large numbers and also if someone has a weakened immune system.

Exactly how they’d managed to build up in Oxfordshire-based Eylsha’s car might have something to do with her cleaning regime.

“I do pretty much nothing,” Elysha says.

“I’ve just turned 30, and I’ve had that car since I was 21.

“I reckon it’s probably been cleaned maybe a dozen times in that time.

Elysha also thinks mould detected on her seats could have something to do with muddy paw prints caused by her Jack Russell terrier, Khyro.

“We walk in a field that’s always getting churned up and turned over so I’m assuming that whatever’s on his paws then goes on to my front seat, and that’s how they got the results,” Elysha says.

Filthy habits

But Elysha’s car cleaning regimen is fairly typical of drivers all over the UK.

According to Cazoo’s survey of 2,000 Brit motorists, owners only fully clean their car on average once every 11 weeks.

Worse still, almost one in five say they only ever clean their car if someone else is getting into it.

And 20 per cent of all drivers say they won’t bother to mop up a drink if they spill it in their car.

Who’s the messiest?

It turns out just how messy your car is can be linked with where you live – and even what colour car you have.

Red cars were found to be the dirtiest by End of Tenancy Cleaning, while black and silver car drivers are the second and third worst for cleaning.

On the hand, yellow car drivers are the tidiest, according to the pool.

Cazoo’s research also showed differences in car cleanliness depending on where the owner lives.

Residents in Gloucester have were the dirtiest car owners, admitting they only clean their entire car every 22 weeks.

Drivers in Coventry and Oxford came in as the second and third most slovenly, only dulling a proper clean of their vehicles every 17 weeks.

Whereas drivers in Scotland are the cleanest – thoroughly smartening up their motor every seven weeks.

How to properly clean your car

There’s a few extremely easy things you can do to get the grime out of your car more easily.

Always start washing your car on the roof – let gravity do some of the work for you by allowing the suds to roll down the outside while you clean elsewhere.

It’s also much more efficient to start cleaning the roof of the inside of your car first so any disturbed dust and dirt that falls in the cleaning process can be vacumed up later.

If you do have a dog, using a squeegee or washing up glove is an excellent way to get hairs off seats.

And using antibacterial wipes will kill off those gut organisms that go roaming about your dashboard.

“The importance of hygiene has significantly increased in 2020 for obvious reasons,” said Neil Smith, Retail Director at Cazoo.

“Although it’s great to see such a large proportion (76 per cent) of drivers personally washing their cars, there is always more we can do to keep our cars as clean as possible.

“Setting aside a small amount of time each week will help you stay on top of your cleaning.

“Whether that’s wiping down the inside of your car with an anti-bacterial wipe or spending time at the weekend clearing out any clutter, it can really make a big difference.”

NEW legislation means that motorists will face a £200 fine and six points on their licence if they are caught TOUCHING their phone behind the wheel.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere unveiled the latest law on 17 October 2020 – making all hand-held mobile activity while driving illegal.

Can you use a mobile phone while driving?

No, you can’t use a mobile phone while you are driving.

It has been illegal to touch a mobile phone – even with a hands-free set – while driving since 2003.

This includes using a mobile to follow a map, read a text or check social media.

The law applies even if you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic as your engine is still running.

You can only use a handheld phone if you are safely parked or need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it is unsafe or impractical to stop.

Drivers can also use their mobiles for contactless payments if a vehicle is stationary at a drive-thru takeaway.

Close-up Of A Person’s Hand Sending Text Message By Mobile Phone While Driving Car

Can I play games and take photos while driving?

No, you can’t play games or take photos on a phone while driving.

The new rules will end a loophole that formerly allowed drivers to use a hand-held device to play games or take a picture while behind the wheel.

You also can’t scroll through music while driving under the new law.

When does the new ban start?

The new law will be enacted next year, making it illegal for anyone to touch or pick up their mobile phone while driving.

Can you use hands-free?

You can use hands-free phones – as long as you don’t press any buttons  – sat navs and two-way radios when you’re driving or riding.

But if the police think you’re distracted and not in control of your vehicle you could still get stopped and penalised. The law also applies to those riding a motorcycle.

Any hands-free devices should be fully set up before you start your ride.

What are the fines for using a mobile phone while driving?

The fines for using your phone while driving is now set at £200.

If caught, you will receive six penalty points on your licence too.

You will also lose your driving licence if you passed your test in the last two years.

If you’re caught using a mobile while driving, how many points do you get on your licence?

Previously, drivers caught on their phones received three penalty points.

But government legislation doubled the amount to six points.

As new drivers only start with six points for their first two years on the road, a conviction will mean your licence being revoked – meaning you have to retake both your theory and practical test.

Previously, motorists in some police force areas could avoid points by taking a remedial driving course.

But ministers believed it wasn’t tough enough so now those caught using a mobile phone for the first time will automatically receive six penalty points.

What are the risks of using a phone while driving?

Drivers using mobile phones were responsible for 33 deaths on Britain’s roads in 2017 alone.

More than 200 people have been killed by drivers distracted by their devices in the last 10 years.

In 2019, research from the Department of Transport suggested that nearly half a million people were using mobile phones while driving.

What is the roadside detection system?

Motorists who use mobiles at the wheel will be shamed by a roadside detection system which can sense if a phone is in use in a car.

If the scanner senses a phone in use in a car, a symbol of a mobile with a line through it then flashes up on a sign as drivers pass.

It will not record plates or issue fines, but data will be shared with police.

The scanner is unable to tell whether a driver or passenger is using a handset, but officials hope the kit will help remind people of the dangers of using phones while driving.

Norfolk County Council’s Road Safety team has developed the technology in partnership with vehicle sign technology firm Westcotec.

How many people are caught using a mobile while driving each year?

The number has fallen 84 per cent in five years, with just 16,900 receiving fixed penalty notices in 2015  compared to 123,100 in 2011.

But 11 million drivers have admitted to using their phone while driving.

Just 13,000 motorists are convicted for using – or causing others to use – a mobile phone when they’re at the controls of a car in Britain each year.

This has resulted in combined fines of £2 million annually, Direct Line said in 2019.

More than a quarter of motorists in 2019 used their phone behind the wheel, be it for calls, messaging or checking updates, according to its survey of 2,000 drivers.

This amounts to nearly 11million individuals, or a motorist using their phone every three seconds on Britain’s roads.

Trials of a 60mph limit will assess how slower speeds affect pollution levels next to junctions or on routes to towns and cities.

More than 40,000 premature deaths a year are linked to poor air quality and the government has identified 101 parts of England’s strategic road network that potentially exceed recommended NO2 levels.

It’s the first time that lower limits will be introduced to tackle emissions alone and the new measures could be rolled out to more locations.

A 60mph limit will be enforced for 24 hours a day on the following motorways:

• M6 between junctions 6 and 7 (near Birmingham)
• M1 between junctions 33 and 34 (at Rotherham, South Yorkshire)
• M602 between junctions 1 and 3 (near Eccles, Greater Manchester)
• M5 between junctions 1 and 2 (at Oldbury, West Midlands)The signposted speed limits will remain on stretches of road up to 4.5 miles long for at least 12 months with a chance of extension if air quality improves.

  Drivers caught breaking the new 60mph limit could face a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence.

  Although Highways England expect a drop in NO2 levels they confirmed that if lower limits were “not having the desired impact after 12 to 15 months then we’ll remove them and look at alternative ways to tackle air quality in that area”.

  They say initial assessments show that a 60mph limit led to an average 17% reduction in emissions.

  Another four locations with poor air quality already have lower speed limits, mainly implemented because of roadworks. There are restrictions at the M32 in Bristol; the A1 in Blaydon, Tyneside; the M4 in Harlington, London; and the M621 near Leeds.

  A separate plan to test pollution barriers is already in place

  Ivan Le Fevre, head of environment at Highways England, said: “Ultimately the air-quality challenge will be solved ‘at the tailpipe’ by vehicle manufacturers and changes in vehicle use. Until this happens we will continue our programme of research and solutions.”

  

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  RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Drivers will already be getting used to speed limits lower than 70mph on stretches of motorway that have been converted to ‘smart motorways’, so targeted speed reductions to reduce emissions in many ways makes sense – so long as doing so doesn’t lead to congestion, and therefore poorer air quality, elsewhere.

  “However it’s also right that all options are considered when it comes to tackling air pollution hotspots on major roads, so in time we look forward to seeing how effective both lower speed limits and pollution barriers prove to be.”

  Over the past 20 years, traffic on motorways has risen by almost a quarter, twice the increase for all roads. The chancellor has promised a £27 billion investment to upgrade motorways and A-roads until 2025.