Spider in car could land drivers hefty £2.5k fine and nine points on licence
Temperatures are dropping as Autumn approaches and that means creepy crawlies are looking to escape the cold.
The eight-legged creatures are invading our homes and our cars looking for somewhere warm to hide.
Some experts say we should welcome them into our homes, although they’re relatively harmless anyone with a spider phobia may not be so easily convinced.
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And if the creepy crawlies make their way into your car while you’re driving you could be slapped with a hefty fine of £2,500 and up to nine points on your licence.
It can also be deadly, in 2015, a woman in the UK caused a fatal crash as a result of a spider falling into her lap from the sun visor.
To help motorists stay safe on the roads, driving expert Dan Gick, managing director at Scrap Car Comparison has shared his top tips on how to avoid creepy crawlies from infiltrating your vehicle.
How Can Drivers Keep Spiders Out Of Their Cars?
Ideally, you want to keep the creatures out of your car altogether. There are several methods that can help repel insects.
- Use essential oils – It’s well known that spiders don’t like the smell of essential oils, so use scents like peppermint and citronella in your car to help deter them.
- Keep your car tidy – Spiders like hiding in dark places, so leaving empty food wrappers and bags around your car will only be an invitation for them to hitch a ride. If germs and bacteria aren’t enough to motivate you to keep your car clean, let spiders be the reason!
- Check for broken seals – Spiders need to be able to access your vehicle in the first place, and one of the ways they can do so is through broken seals around windows and doors. Make sure they’re also free from dirt and debris that can cause them to be held in a more open position.
- Keep your air vents clean – Air vents are one of the other main places where spiders like to live, so make sure to give them a wipe and good dust to avoid any build-up of dust and grime.
- Check your sun visors – Sun visors are a common hiding place for spiders in vehicles, but they’re also used more frequently in the autumn months as the sun sits lower in the sky. As a result, it’s worth checking your visors are spider-free before you set off to avoid any nasty surprises.
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What Do I Do If I See A Spider While Driving?
If you become distracted by a spider while behind the wheel, as well as being at risk of causing a crash you could also land yourself up to nine penalty points and a £2,500 fine for careless driving – or worse.
- Keep calm and keep your eyes on the road
- Leave the car open when safely stopped
- Use a piece of paper, or gloves to remove the spider
Dan Gick, Managing Director of Scrap Car Comparison, comments: “Spiders are something that many of us love to hate, and they can often give us a bit of a fright, so it’s not surprising that we find it rather unsettling when they appear in our cars with us.
“However, it’s important that we try not to let any phobias or fears distract us from the roads, and cause a much more serious incident than any that will occur from sharing our cars with an eight-legged creature for a short time.
“Keeping your car clean and tidy will help to deter spiders from moving into your car too, so hopefully that’s enough motivation to get out the vacuum cleaner and cloths during the winter months!”
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