Vehicle Usage and the Spread of Coronavirus

With the UK in lockdown, people around the country are starting to think much more carefully about how their day-to-day actions impact the spread of the virus, especially when it comes to travel. While government advice dictates that we should avoid unnecessary travel, some people simply have no other choice but to use their car. Whether you’re nipping out to get food or off to help a vulnerable relative, getting in your vehicle could still very much be part of your daily routine. If this is you, then it makes sense to get a better understanding of how using your car might impact the spread of the virus.

The dangers

If you are the only person in your family who uses your vehicle, or you can be certain that everyone who uses the vehicle has not caught the virus, you are safe treat your vehicle like an extension of your home. This means that, as long as you are washing your hands before and after your journey, you shouldn’t need to worry about the vehicle itself.

What really matters, however, is what you do when you get out of your car. If you are going to drop off some shopping to a vulnerable relative, for example, you can be secure in the knowledge that you won’t come into contact with anything contaminated. However, if you have to pick someone up – someone who may carry the virus – or you have to stop off at a motorway service station and need to use the loo, problems arise. When it comes to motorway loos – or supermarket loos, for that matter – the real issue is the blow dryer. Blow dryers are exposed to all kinds of bacteria during the day and, when in use, these particles become airborne, making it much more likely for the user to catch the virus.

How to clean your car and stop the spread of the virus

The best way to ensure that you don’t spread the virus through the use of your vehicle, car or lorry, is to clean it thoroughly.

• What parts should I clean? Ideally, you should clean your whole car, exterior and interior, but it’s mainly the interior that you are going to want to focus on, in particular your steering wheel, gearstick (if applicable), handbrake, seats and dashboard.

• What products should I use? While there is a shortage of disinfectant at the moment, for obvious reasons, these are the sort of products that you will need to look for. Alcohol solutions that contain at least 70% alcohol are effective against the coronavirus, we would recommend using isopropyl alcohol, where possible.

• What should I avoid? Whatever you do, make sure that you don’t use bleach or hydrogen peroxide on the inside of your vehicle. While these chemicals will certainly kill the virus, they will permanently damage the inside of your vehicle, leaving behind harmful fumes. We would also recommend that you do not use ammonia-based cleaners on car touch screens, as they can damage their anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings.

MOTs during lockdown

If your vehicle is due for a service during this lockdown period (on or after March 30th), don’t worry – extensions are available. This means that:

• Your vehicle will still have a valid MOT certificate for an extra 6 months.
• You can still tax your vehicle – but you might need to wait to do this until later in the month if both your MOT and vehicle tax run out this month.
• Your insurance will still be valid.
• Your vehicle’s record will be updated so that the police can see you have a valid MOT.

The Windscreen Company are experts when it comes to windscreen repairs, and our team will offer you the best advice to make sure you get the most cost effective and suitable type of repair. For more information about the services that we offer, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The Windscreen Company

The Windscreen Company

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The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.

The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.

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