ONE IN FIVE ADMIT TO HAVING USED THEIR CAR AS A TOILET
Survey finds 22% of drivers have urinated in their own vehicle

20 March 2007, London – A new survey into motorists’ habits has discovered that when drivers have to go, they go – whether there are nearby toilet facilities or not.

According to the survey by online insurance broker www.motorinsurance.co.uk, more than one in five (22%) of the 920 drivers polled have urinated in their own cars.

Worryingly, only 14% of respondents have a container at hand.

According to the survey, 40% of drivers are aware that their need to urinate urgently has had an adverse effect on their driving skills, with the hard shoulder the most popular (35%) stop for instant bladder relief.

Half of drivers surveyed (48%) say that more roadside toilet facilities are required, but nearly one third (32%) of us would still prefer to use the hard shoulder than use a roadside toilet anyway!

In addition, nearly one third of drivers (31%) believe that some roadside restaurants actually dissuade them from using their toilets.

Paul Cosh, managing director of www.motorinsurance.co.uk, says that the results give a whole new meaning to a bog standard car:

“It is a pretty shocking indictment of UK roadside service stations and facilities that drivers would prefer to urinate at the roadside, or even in their own cars, than use them.

“And I must admit my bemusement at the 10% of drivers who have urinated in their car, without having a bottle or container at hand,” he says.

“We have yet to receive an insurance policy claim for such self-inflicted vehicle damage, but I do not think that many insurers would accept an “I was desperate” defence as a mitigating circumstance! “