Putting the boot in: More people using vehicle for storage

Items we carry around needlessly in the boot of our car are costing us dearly in terms of added fuel consumption and tyre wear.

UK research carried out by tyre manufacturer, Michelin, shows half of all drivers use their cars as mobile storage units. Almost one third of those surveyed use their vehicle for storage because they don’t have space at home.

Motorists are driving around for months on end with unnecessary items bouncing around in the boot — shoes (31%), cleaning products (36%), books (26%), magazines (20%), toys and children’s accessories (18%), pet accessories (16%), work items (16%) sports equipment and sleeping bags (8%). Unnecessary weight places an added burden on tyre pressure, and one tank of fuel in five is used up just to overcome the rolling resistance of the tyres.