Who would have thought that keeping your car clean and organized, outside and in, would have benefits beyond great looks? It turns out that people who prioritize car maintenance in all forms - including cleanliness - fare better than those who don’t.
We have a safety-first mentality, so let’s start from there.
Drivers with clean and organized vehicles are less likely to be distracted, and distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents.
Drivers with messy or cluttered cars are more likely to:
A clean car is less likely to be distracting or unable to keep you safe. Make it a habit to throw away trash every time you stop for gas or when you arrive at your destination.
If you’re involved in an accident, car clutter has the potential to cause greater injury to you and your passengers. This is especially true for accidents involving cars at higher speeds. You, your passengers, and all of the loose contents in a car or truck move through space at the same speed as the car travels. So, if a car traveling 70 mph is involved in an accident that stops it in its tracks, your body and all of the loose contents continue moving at that speed until they’re stopped by physical force.
Hopefully, you and your passengers would be halted by the seatbelts. However, that half-full soda bottle, a tape measure, a coffee mug on the dashboard or backseat, etc., will continue moving at 70 mph until they’re stopped by something solid. If that something is a human, they are likely to experience a worse injury - and possibly even a traumatic brain injury or laceration - than they would have if the car were clean and uncluttered.
Unless you’re in seriously inclement weather, we recommend using gas station stops to wash the windshields, check the oil, and take a look at the tires. You can do all three in five minutes or less, and they go a long way toward improving vehicle safety and performance.
When it comes to the cleanliness of your car, clean windows prevent you from having visibility issues at night or when the sun shines directly at your windshield. And, while we understand the appeal of having a row of stuffed animals (or rubber duckies if you’re a Jeeper) on the dashboard or rear window panel, they have the potential to reduce visibility and slow down response time if something runs out - or blows/falls into the road directly in front or behind you.
You wouldn’t think it, but all of the grime accumulating on a vehicle adds wind resistance. The more wind resistance there is, the lower a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. While this seems obvious for people who go off-road regularly and wind up caked with mud, even a small even layer of accumulated dust and road debris weighs the car down.
Also, dirt and grime (not to mention environmental pollutants) on the exterior and interior of the car shorten the lifespan of the paint job, seat upholstery, and other finishing materials. So, the money you spend on a professional wash or details (or the pennies you save with DIY car washing at home) more than pays for itself by not having to repaint, reupholster, or refinish the car.
Studies have repeatedly shown that people who live in, work in, or spend time in cluttered spaces have higher levels of stress and anxiety. They’re also more likely to report feeling depressed, fatigued, or that they struggle to concentrate.
Most of us spend time in our cars every day and, depending on your commute, that could be for several hours per day. Do your mental health a favor by cleaning and decluttering your car so you have a calm, peaceful space for your daily commutes.
We practice what we preach here at J&T Towing. Whether you need us to provide a vehicle tow or roadside assistance that gets you where you need to go, we promise a clean, organized ride and a friendly service technician.
Need a helping hand somewhere along our Bay Area highways or byways? Contact J&T Towing online or by calling (707) 356-4613. We are here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week - come rain or come shine.
