An average of £129 worth of personal items are being left in the cars of female motorists on a daily basis - not surprising when you consider that over half (60%) of women view their car as an extension of their home, with 85% admitting to regularly leaving personal items in their car that belong in a wardrobe rather than a foot-well.
A report out today discovered that 38% of women leave at least four personal items in their car on a regular basis, with a further 18% admitting to leaving seven or more! The growing 'after work' culture amongst office workers means more than a quarter (27%) of women regularly keep a change of clothes in their car and one fifth hoard make-up in their vehicle.
Since we have almost doubled the number of leisure activities that we undertake in the last 15 years, cars are often cluttered with hobby-related items too. The top five personal items most likely to be left in a car by a female motorist - many relating to potential trips to the gym - are:
1. Books (39%)
2. Shoes (35%)
3. Clothes (27%)
4. Children's toys (25%)
5. Toiletries (22%)
Shoes may come second on the list, but it's not just one pair of shoes we're talking about...over two-thirds (67%) of UK female motorists have up to four pairs of shoes in their car at any one time - whether they be trainers for the more sporty female, stilettos for that after work drink, or even a sensible driving shoe, they all contribute to the clutter in our cars!
Not only are the personal items left in cars a big attraction for thieves, but they are also putting the lives of drivers, and their passengers, at risk. A staggering 10% of female motorists have had an accident or experienced a 'near miss' as a result of stray personal items rolling beneath their pedals. The top five items that slip under car pedals while driving are:
* Empty drink cans / water bottles
* Food packaging
* Lipstick
* Deodorant
* Hairbrush
Furthermore, personal items in cars can be hazardous in a collision. More than 189,000 women (1 per cent%) have been injured in a crash as a result of being hit by a loose object. Mothers are most at risk - with 11% of parents stockpiling more than 10 personal items in the car, many to provide children with in-car entertainment. According to the survey, carried out by insurance company Sheila's Wheels, almost half (48%) of mums regularly keep children's toys in their car.