The Hidden Risks IN Your Auto

automobile car infectious disease risk management whitecoat Oct 08, 2019

Automobile Risks

We all know about the risks of driving our cars and the potential for serious harm in an accident. Because of that, countless safety features have been built into them to help protect us. That protection can be against our own bad driving habits...or those of others. Seat belts. Airbags. Side impact guards. Tempered glass. Children seats. Lane change monitors. Driving speed indicators. Automatic braking. Hands-free phones. And even more developments in the future.

The Hidden Risks In Automobiles

But you probably don't know of a hidden danger in your auto that is typically ignored. Yes, ignored by auto manufacturers and the consumers who purchase automobiles. It's a risk that can impact each occupant of the auto, at any time, without warning, wreaking havoc on your health and safety.

So what are these hidden risks?

Infectious Disease.

Your car is teeming with billions of bacteria, viruses, fungal elements and other nefarious buggers. Everyone that gets in your auto deposits their own bugs....and picks up some of yours. It a veritable cesspool of germs.

Your Car Is One Big Fomite

When you get into your car, you are touching everything. Steering wheel. Knobs. Shifter. Door handles. And all of those items can allow those infectious buggers to sit and wait...for the next person. If your auto is used by many different people in your household, it's a "great" place to share your coughs, colds and flu.

It's even worse if you rent a car. If you think that the rental companies clean autos between uses, think again. Lord knows what the person before you had on their hands. (Ewwww ... Just thinking about that is gross). Taxis and ride-sharing autos are probably even worse because of the huge volume of occupants that are in and out of the auto.

Furthermore, the air-conditioning system in an auto can also be a source of disease, especially mold. It's important that this system dry out periodically to prevent a moist environment for the growth of mold and mildew. Changing your "cabin air filter" on a regular basis helps. If the air in your auto stinks, it's time to understand that it's probably due to contamination of the system and needs cleaning.

Don't forget to clean your auto on a regular basis. Food and drink spills can result in bugs and bacteria, as well as just disgusting rotting food particles. This is especially true if you eat in your auto. Do you really think that the french-fry lost between your seat and the console really isn't rotting away? Don't deny it...it is. And getting more disgusting by the minute.

So What To Do?

Well, fortunately, it's pretty simple. If the toilet in your house was dirty...you would clean and disinfect it. (In fact, the average steering wheel is worse than a toilet seat). So why not do the same with your steering wheel? Gear shift? Door knobs? Seats? Dashboard? and other items in your auto. Keep them clean and wipe them down with an antibacterial wipe on a regular basis, perhaps every two or three weeks (or more often). This is essential in the cold and flu season. It's even more essential when you rent an auto. Keep a packet of disinfective wipes with you when you travel, and wipe down those filthy surfaces before you start using the auto. You may also want to do this in other common transportation areas, such as airline seats.

It's Not Hard

No, it's really not hard to keep the surfaces clean that you are in regular contact with. It's just having the right materials (anti-infective wipes) and remembering to use them.

Doing so can dramatically reduce your chance of acquiring an infection, cold, flu, etc. from those surfaces. Will it completely eliminate the risk? Unlikely, but it will significantly help. And it's simple.

Want to read more? Check out this article from mdlinx, Could your car be making you sick?

WhiteCoat Risk Management provides these articles to help improve general risk awareness in all aspects of your life. It is not responsible for any actions you take or fail to take regarding any aspect of your financial planning or risk management. This article is provided for information purposes and is not intended to provide individualized advice. You alone are responsible for your decisions.

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