A clean car translates into a safer you

H. Kishie Singh

“Are your hands clean?” I asked the young man as he stepped up to check the engine of my Gypsy. It was scrutiny time for the Himalayan Rally about 30 years ago. That young man has not forgotten that question. It has become a greeting. Today when we meet, he never says, “How are you?” It is: “Are your hands clean?”

The young man was Hormazd Sorabjee, editor of Autocar, India’s leading auto magazine, and Hormazd is the unchallenged authority on automobiles. Only because he keeps his hands clean!

On a more serious note, neither of us could have visualised the importance of clean hands. More so in India because personal and general hygiene is not a priority. Who could have thought that a simple hand wash could be a life-saving exercise? Today this question is of utmost importance. India is particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus. Some years ago, there was a diplomatic verbal punch up between India and a western country.

This country had issued a travel advisory warning to its citizens visiting India that they should avoid touching railings, banisters, poles or pillars in public areas. Indian’s wipe their noses on these public structures, it said. Disgusting but true!

There is something deadlier than this disgraceful habit. In the cities are installed GI pipes as railings in shopping areas. It is a great help to senior citizens to climb on to the pedestrian path in front of the shops. It is being misused with wild abandon. The cleaning woman wipes the corridor with a mop and then hangs it out to dry on the railing. Thousands of people walk the corridor. During their meanderings around town, for sure, they have stepped on shit, piss, spit, paan juice and more. This is what the mop cleans up. And you touch it!

See the attached picture. Mop is hanging on the railing. The railing is as dirty as the floor. And the ladies hand is touching it. Coronavirus has a lifespan of three days on metal.

Now long before sanitiser lotions became necessary, I had my own anti-virus jugaad. The interior of my car has to be spotlessly clean. Not only to look at but also hygienically. I would take a hand towel, soak it in a strong solution of Dettol and pack it in a zip-lock bag. This would be kept in the glovebox.

As soon as the hotel valet delivered my car, I would wipe the steering wheel, gearshift lever and handbrake. Driving along, my wife would wipe the rest of the dashboard and door handles. Don’t forget to sanitise the ignition key. It is the driver’s most favoured instrument for cleaning their ears! And this you are going to put in your pocket or handbag. Ugh!

Another very helpful advice coming from South Korea which has been hard hit by this pandemic. Most people are in the habit of touching their faces regularly. Rubbing eyes, touching nose and twirling their moustache. Right handed people use the right hand. So, if you are in a public place, use your left hand to open doors, touch door knobs, opening taps and whatever. This will make sure that your right hand will be cleaner than the left hand.

And Namaste, Salaam, Sat Sri Akal, no handshake!

Happy Motoring!