Skip advert
Advertisement

Kids' car seats carry more germs than average toilet

A new study has revealed children's car seats carry a range of germs and bacteria

Peugeot 508 SW child seat

Children's car seats carry twice as many dangerous germs as the average toilet, a new study by the University of Birmingham has revealed.

The car seats swabbed by scientists had 100 germs per square centimetre, compared to just 50 germs in the same area of a toilet. Bugs found included bacteria that can lead to illnesses such as E. coli and salmonella. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Birmingham University also swabbed 20 cars and homes, and found that cars contain more potentially hazardous bacterial and fungal species. The footwell was the filthiest area in a car, with several thousand germs per square centimetre.

• Death of the tax-disc: what it means

To support the study, Continental Tyres surveyed 2,000 motorists and found half regularly drive in vehicles full of clutter, while one in 10 admitted having an accident or near-miss due to the mess in their car. 

Nearly two-thirds of drivers aren’t aware of the health risks posed by a dirty car, with one in five admitting they only clean inside their car once a year – usually before taking it to a garage.

Mark Griffiths, safety expert at Continental, said: “Clutter and germs can present a real hazard. For example, a can or bottle rolling under a brake pedal would be very serious.”

Read more about declining driving standards in the UK here...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA
Opinion - Jaguar

It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA

Mike Rutherford thinks Jaguar's 'Reimagine' strategy will result in the company exploring further opportunities in the USA
Opinion
25 May 2025
Slow death of the manual car revealed in exclusive new data
Manual gearbox

Slow death of the manual car revealed in exclusive new data

There are now very few manual cars available to buy, a trend that’s been exacerbated by the rise of EVs
News
26 May 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Nissan’s X-Trail is a do-it-all seven-seat hybrid SUV for only £235 a month
Nissan X-Trail - front corner left

Car Deal of the Day: Nissan’s X-Trail is a do-it-all seven-seat hybrid SUV for only £235 a month

If the Qashqai is too small for you, then the larger X-Trail is a fine alternative. It’s our Deal of the Day for 25 May
News
25 May 2025