Although spiders in the UK are rarely harmful, for those with a fear or strong dislike for the creatures, it can be stressful to know that there is one in immediate proximity. In the case of drivers, spiders can also suddenly appear mid-journey, causing a distraction to whoever is behind the wheel.
In 2015, a woman in the UK caused a fatal crash as a result of a spider falling into her lap from the sun visor, highlighting how the consequences of having a spider in the car can be incredibly severe. To help motorists stay safe on the roads, driving expert Dan Gick, managing director at Scrap Car Comparison has shared his top tips on how to avoid creepy crawlies from infiltrating your vehicle.
How Can Drivers Keep Spiders Out Of Their Cars?
Ideally, we want to avoid having spiders in our cars altogether, and luckily there are a few easy ways drivers can easily repel the insects from their vehicles:
Use essential oils - It’s well known that spiders don’t like the smell of essential oils, so use scents like peppermint and citronella in your car to help deter them.
Keep your car tidy - Spiders like hiding in dark places, so leaving empty food wrappers and bags around your car will only be an invitation for them to hitch a ride. If germs and bacteria aren’t enough to motivate you to keep your car clean, let spiders be the reason!
Check for broken seals around windows - Spiders need to be able to access your vehicle in the first place, and one of the ways they can do so is through broken seals around windows and doors. Make sure they’re also free from dirt and debris that can cause them to be held in a more open position.
Keep your air vents clean - Air vents are one of the other main places where spiders like to live, so make sure to give them a wipe and a good dust to avoid any build up of dust and grime.
Check your sun visors - Sun visors are a common hiding place for spiders in vehicles, but they’re also used more frequently in the autumn months as the sun sits lower in the sky. As a result, it’s worth checking your visors are spider-free before you set off to avoid any nasty surprises.
How Can I Clean Spiders Off My Car?
Even if you’ve been lucky enough to avoid finding a spider inside your car, the chances are that you’ve probably seen one outside it. Spider webs are usually a giveaway sign that you may have an eight-legged friend on board, so it’s best to try and remove them before they make their way inside.
The wing mirrors are usually a prime place for spiders to gather, with webs between your mirrors and doors often present during autumn months. The dark, dirty conditions make them a great place for spiders to lay their eggs, so make sure to keep them clean using a brush (avoid pressure washing as this can damage your electrical system!). When cleaning, ensure you’ve removed any eggs that have been laid too - these are usually wrapped up in webs that look a bit like cotton wool.
As mentioned, spiders dislike essential oils, so you can also create your own ‘spider repellent’ from peppermint oil or citronella mixed with water, which you can spray around your wing mirrors and along any door or window seals, or around your wheels to stop spiders from gathering.
What Do I Do If I See A Spider While Driving?
For many arachnophobes, spotting a spider in the car while driving would be a nightmare, and one that could cause them to go into panic and drive erratically. If you become distracted by a spider while behind the wheel, as well as being at risk of causing a crash by a change in your concentration, you could also land yourself up to nine penalty points and a £2,500 fine for careless driving - or worse depending on the incident!
However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind if you do spot one moving around your vehicle:
Spiders don’t like vibrations - A sleepy spider will be disturbed by a lot of vibrations, so try to avoid sitting with your car idle for too long. If they do emerge from their hiding place, which is most likely on the outside of the car, then they may try to find their way inside.
Keep calm and keep your eyes on the road - Although it’s easier said than done, it’s important to not be distracted by any spiders in the car. Instead, you should try to keep driving until you find a safe place to pull over, such as a quiet road, or a layby or other parking space. Don’t be tempted to try and remove the spider while driving!
Leave the car open - If possible, when safely stopped, exit the car and leave the doors and windows open so that the spider can find it’s own way out
Use a piece of paper, or gloves to remove the spider - Few of us like the idea of picking up a spider, so when stationary, use a piece of paper (or car handbook), or a thick pair of gloves, such as those you may wear in the winter, to gently remove the spider from your vehicle. This is a much safer method than trying to flick a spider out of a window whilst moving.
Dan Gick, Managing Director of Scrap Car Comparison said: “Spiders are something that many of us love to hate, and they can often give us a bit of a fright, so it’s not surprising that we find it rather unsettling when they appear in our cars with us. However, it’s important that we try not to let any phobias or fears distract us from the roads, and cause a much more serious incident than any that will occur from sharing our cars with an eight-legged creature for a short time.
Keeping your car clean and tidy will help to deter spiders from moving into your car too, so hopefully that’s enough motivation to get out the vacuum cleaner and cloths during the winter months!”
