According to an AA spot-check survey, five per cent of drivers, equivalent to 1.5 million drivers, feel the need to have things dangling from their rear-view mirrors and may be breaking the law.
The survey of more than 2,000 vehicles on motorways this week found:
One in 20 vehicles had items dangling from their rear-view mirror which could create a blind-spot. The number one item was a green scented tree which seemed to be favoured by van and pick-up truck drivers. Silver CD, which in the morning sunlight had the extra danger of dazzling other drivers with the reflection was the most bizarre and dangerous item. There appears to be a totally unfounded urban myth that dangling a CD will somehow avert speed camera detection.
Top five items spotted dangling in the windscreen included air fresheners (mainly trees), miniature footballs, rosary beads and coats of arms ((mainly football clubs).
Other odd items included small pots, shamrock, a leprechaun, a camera, ceramic animals, furry dice, boxing gloves, a Margaret Thatcher doll, a turquoise peace sign charm and a miniature horse.