Young driver's $15 move to avoid little-known risk on Aussie roads: 'Most people don't know'
The budget-friendly item one Aussie swears by protects drivers from the harmful effects of UV rays while driving.
When it comes to avoiding the risks of UV from the sun, Australians can never be too careful. One young Aussie amazed fellow drivers after detailing the $15 item she uses while in the car to stay protected.
Despite admitting it might look slightly "silly", a pair of UV-protected arm covers offers defence from the sun making them more than worthwhile for Melbourne-based Olivia Faulkner. The cheap product from retailer Uniqlo claims to be "perfect" for daily commutes as well as sports.
Olivia told Yahoo News Australia that she became "really vigilant" with sun protection after sustaining second-degree sunburn all over her body from lying in the sun a few years ago. "I've never been to the beach and sunbathed since," she said, adding it was the "worst pain she's ever experienced."
"Only $15 for a pair of gloves is a much better price to pay than treatment for melanoma and skin cancers," she said. It comes after another young driver Lucy Blair showed off a $99 sun smock she wears to protect her upper body from UV radiation in the car.
Gen-Z tanning trend sparks skin cancer fears
Watching "tanning culture" re-emerge as a popular trend among young Australians who show off visible tan lines, Olivia told Yahoo to be a voice "spreading awareness of how dangerous the Australian sun is".
A skin cancer specialist recently told Yahoo "there is no such thing as a healthy tan," in response to the troubling shift taking place among younger generations, urging everyone to think twice before potentially exposing themselves to the risks of skin cancer from the sun.
"Hands are one of the first places to show visible signs of aging, and car windows and windscreens don’t block 100% of UVA and UVB rays which I don’t think most people know," explained Olivia.
While tinted windows in cars drastically reduce the amount of UV radiation on a person's skin, it doesn't completely remove the risk. And more often than not, if the windscreen is tinted, it doesn't mean the side windows are too.
"So many people know the dangers of the sun and yet they don’t take adequate steps to protect themselves. I also feel like a lot of people have the mentality of “well it won’t happen to me” when it comes to getting skin cancer and I wish they didn’t!
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Aussies react to woman's driving gloves
Olivia said she was surprised at how many positive responses she got after posting a video of her driving gloves on social media.
"I need them," said one Aussie. Others admitted they were "running" to go out and get some themselves.
"I hope people go out and buy these driving gloves," she said. "They may look a bit silly but it’s worth it for your health."
Cancer Council Australia recommends drivers and passengers wear protective clothing and sunscreen that is at least SPF 50 while in the car for long periods of time. This will help to protect them while inside the car and when they leave it.
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