Drivers must rub lemon peel in car 'for two months' starting from this week
As much as we hate to admit it, spider season is well and truly underway.
Millions of eight-legged freaks are set to invade the UK as mating season peaks. Not only are creepy crawlies appearing in our homes, drivers are being urged to keep an eye on the insects lurking in their vehicles.
It comes after a recent TikTok video gained 2million views showing a driver discovering a spider in her vehicle while behind the wheel. She decided to leap out of her moving car to avoid the creature before calling a nearby police car for help.
The driver, who has the name @summerstangerx on the platform, responded to comments saying cops removed the spider for her and put it on the side of the road. One person commented: "I see no overreaction."
READ MORE: M&S shoppers rush to buy bargain perfume dupes which 'smell like Chanel and Jo Malone'
READ MORE: Woman shares five simple steps to ensure your home smells amazing all the time
While another commented: "You're giving me so much anxiety driving." And a third added: "You need to keep your hands on the wheel."
Now motoring experts from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts revealed how to mitigate the risk of spiders entering your vehicle this spider season and why drivers overreacting to the situation could be at risk of a £2,500 fine.
They said: "Spiders are an inconvenience for drivers, especially for drivers with severe phobias. However, it is paramount to ensure safety on the roads for yourself and others around you while driving.
"Drivers can be fined up to £2,500 for reckless driving and up to nine penalty points, so it is paramount for drivers not to overreact and not to allow spiders (or any other insects) to impact their safety on the roads."
Here are three tips to ward off spiders from your cars this September:
1. Don't leave food in your vehicle
Leaving food in your car could attract insects and unwanted spiders to your vehicle. Keeping your car clean will mitigate the risk of spiders being attracted to your vehicle.
Ensuring food and drink products in your car are sealed and not left inside your car for long periods will minimise spiders in your car.
2. Regularly inspect your vehicle
Frequently check your vehicle for spiders, especially looking in crevices and hidden areas. Underneath child seats and beneath seatbelts are common places where spiders may hide.
Frequently checking your vehicle and removing insects will minimise the risk of spiders reproducing or festering.
3. Use citrus products
Using citrus products inside your vehicle, such as an air freshener, will deter spiders away, as they don't like the smell of citrus fruits. Rubbing lemon peels around your vehicle's doors and windows can solve the issue of unwanted insects inside your vehicle.