Motorists warned of having ‘dangerous’ clutter in cars – avoid huge fines

Spring and cleaning go hand in hand, and whilst many tend to focus on their home, it’s just as important to make sure that the car is in a safe and drivable condition this spring, an expert has said. Having clutter inside the car can be dangerous and distracting while driving, and it could lead to road incidents that may otherwise be avoided, as well as huge fines.

Jamie Louram, Halfords Car Cleaning Buyer, has recently shared his advice on what to look out for to make sure cars are clean, tidy, and most importantly safe to drive.

Mr Louram said: “Whilst there is no fine for having a messy interior, clutter if bad enough can also fall under the careless driving rule leading to a fine of up to £100.”

He added: “As a general rule, keep your car clutter-free to avoid any dangerous situations such as things getting stuck under the brake pedal or blocking your view.

“If you do tend to err on the side of messy when it comes to your car, a bin is a great solution.”

READ MORE: Nearly three-quarters of drivers could change to an electric vehicle

Experts urged drivers to stop storing paperwork inside, and check what items might be useful to keep there.

Additionally, research by Ageas has shown that cupholders are some of the worst culprits for hiding bacteria in many cars.

Part of the problem is that they are very difficult to clean.

One popular trick is to use a travel cup, with an old sock over the bottom.

Drivers can spray it with window cleaner, put it inside the cup holder, and twist it around so it shifts all the dirt.

Motorists could also prevent cupholders from getting dirty in the first place by putting silicon baking cups in them, which will catch all of the dust and dirt and are easier to empty out.

Lastly, every car should have a bin and a clean boot.

Even a small plastic container could act as a bin.

Drivers should, however, remember to empty it out once in a while to prevent any unwanted smells in the car.

Motorists should also take a minute to go through the boot and decide what they really need to keep in there.

Sorting things into bags so they are not left rolling around, or buying a car boot organiser, could go a long way and possibly prevent any unwanted fines.

source: express.co.uk