According to a recent survey, more than 5,000 tonnes of sand will wind up in cars after beach outings this year.
As drivers and families enjoy time at the beach, 5,243 tonnes of weight—the equivalent of 1,747 ice cream vans—will end up inside cars, according to data from insurance company Direct Line.
First, in July 2024, ten families were invited by the insurance company to tour beaches throughout the UK in a recently valeted car. After that, the amount of sand that had seeped into the cars was measured, and it was discovered that, on average, 94g of sand had found its way into the back of each car.
Then, between July 30 and August 2, 2,000 people in the UK were surveyed regarding their summer travel schedules. According to the survey, 31 million Brits intend to visit a sandy beach in the UK this year, and 69% of them will travel there by car.
Shoes and clothes were the main culprits, accounting for 47% of the sand that ended up in cars. Towels and buckets came in second, followed by children (19%) and dogs (16%).
Gunnar Peters, product Manager for Direct Line Motor Insurance, said: “A trip to the seaside is a fixture in British summers for many of us – whatever the weather. Whilst the beach is fun on the day, I’m sure most of us would prefer it to stay there. Sand is a tricky substance that can be difficult to remove despite best efforts and it’s no wonder many continue to find it days, weeks and even months later.”
Additionally, the study investigated which UK cities had the highest percentage of citizens who plan trips to the beach. Leeds was first with 64% of its population, followed by Manchester and Sheffield in second place with 62%, and Glasgow and London in third place with 61%.
