In today's hurried world, many greet the day by opening their car doors to a trail of food and gum wrappers, empty soda bottles and cans, meandering coins, crumpled tickets, and perhaps a stray, withering magazine.
It's fair to say that at least some perfunctory spring cleaning is in order, but who are the most slovenly drivers among us? One poll by Swinton suggests that women in particular might either shy away from cleaning their cars or simply forego the unpleasant task altogether.
Of the 3,000 female policyholders surveyed by the U.K.-based insurer, 78 percent expressed embarrassed about the unkempt state of their rides. Perhaps more troubling, 20 percent of the participants admitted to "never" having bothered to clean the interior. When asked to identify a cleaning strategy, 18 percent of the females surveyed claimed to either leave the chore to the "professionals or [their] partners, fathers or other party," presumably anyone willing to pick up some glass cleaner and a vacuum.
Forty-eight percent said they would spruce up their cars if expected to give a client a lift but likely wouldn't bother for a colleague, friend, or even a family member. Yet, an overwhelming majority -- 98 percent -- were adamant about ensuring a thorough cleanse (exterior included) prior to selling a vehicle.
The study also found that women tend to be less forgiving of their male counterparts when it comes to car clutter. Eighty-two percent of participants said they would be displeased if a potential beau showed up in a disheveled car on a first date.
In all seriousness, other than putting a damper on a car's aesthetic, clutter may actually attract theft. So it would seem that some neglectful female drivers have more to contend with than just a disapproving spouse or passenger.
"We would always recommend [that] people keep their cars as tidy as possible, as any personal items on display can attract thieves," advised Steve Chelton, insurer development manager at Swinton. "Evidence shows that thieves are more likely to target a messy car [because] they believe the owner may have left valuables lying around. Not only that, but from a safety perspective rubbish such as empty bottles can easily roll under the pedals impeding driving and possibly cause an accident."
See also: Teen Driving: Girls Behaving Badly
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