Wiper Blades Need Maintenance?! Who Could Have Guessed!

You’ve probably noticed those weird rubber things on your windshield that wipe away rain and dirt. Yes, those are wiper blades. And according to a study by eBay, one in ten drivers never, ever checks them. Not once! Apparently, some people assume these magical strips of rubber will last forever. Clearly, giving basic car maintenance even a moment’s thought is just too much to ask for some.

And if that’s not alarming enough, here’s a fun fact: one in five drivers doesn’t even know that faulty wiper blades can cause a failed vehicle inspection. Yes, you heard that right. You could roll into your technical inspection feeling smug—engine purring like a dream, tires fresh, brakes sharper than a Michelin-starred chef’s knife—only to be slapped with a big, red “FAILED” stamp because your wiper blades are older than your grandma’s carpet.

But wait, there’s more! 31% of people don’t know how to change their wiper blades. We live in an era where anyone can become an internet-famous cat influencer, yet swapping out two strips of rubber apparently requires a PhD in mechanical engineering. And Gen-Z drivers? A whopping 45% of them don’t even realize wiper blades are checked during a technical inspection. Presumably, they think rain only happens in movies.

Of course, this isn’t just a trivial issue. If you’re driving through a storm and your wipers are so useless that all you can see is your existential crisis reflected in the windshield, well… that’s not exactly safe. Fortunately, the solution is simple: find a store, buy the right wiper blades, and for the love of all things automotive, replace them.