Overview
- The Met Office reports very high pollen levels across parts of the UK, with hay fever affecting about two in ten people.
- Saga motor insurance head Ali Ingram-Seal urges drivers to switch on the cabin air recirculation mode to block outside pollen from the vents.
- She recommends replacing the cabin or pollen filter every 12,000–15,000 miles or about every two years to keep airflow strong and reduce musty smells.
- Some newer electric cars, including certain Tesla models, use HEPA-grade cabin filters that trap finer pollen than standard filters.
- Drivers can lower exposure by timing trips for morning or late evening, cleaning interiors with easy-to-wash rubber mats, and avoiding parking under pollen-shedding trees.