Over 3 Billion Bugs Are Expected to Be Splattered on U.S. Drivers’ Cars Over Memorial Day Weekend. Turtle Wax Offers 5 Tips to Get Drivers Road-Ready.

As an estimated 39.4 million Americans gear up to hit the road for Memorial Day weekend[1], there’s one unavoidable reality they all have to face: billions of bugs are about to meet their messy fate on windshields, grilles, and plenty of other vehicle surfaces.

According to the 2025 Turtle Wax Bug Splatter Report, U.S. drivers are expected to squash a staggering 3.07 billion insects with their vehicles over Memorial Day weekend. That projection is based on research from a Wageningen University biologist[2], who found that cars globally kill an estimated 228 trillion insects each year. Break that down by the world’s 8 billion people, and it means the average driver is responsible for squashing 28,500 bugs annually—or a “bug body count” of 78 insects a day. Multiply that daily toll by the tens of millions of Americans hitting the road for Memorial Day, and the collective impact becomes staggering.

From bug-dotted grilles to splattered windshields, the evidence of every road trip is hard to miss – and not always something drivers want to show off when they arrive at their destination. That’s why Turtle Wax is stepping in to help drivers prepare for the unofficial kickoff to summer road trip season with expert tips to help you prepare before the splatter starts, essentials to enjoy the journey and how to restore your car from bug splatter post-journey.

Prepare

·         Give Your Car a Deep Clean: Waited until the last minute to wash? Get the job done in no time using a product like Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions 3-in-1 Detailer. With it, you can quickly remove light dirt and dust from your exterior without water, making it the perfect road trip companion.

For the interior, try Turtle Wax Quick & Easy Dash & Glass®, which is perfect as a one-step solution for cleaning interior glass, dashboards, tech screens and more. Turtle Wax also offers a variety of other interior products depending on specific needs, including leather cleaners, carpet and upholstery cleaners, and even air care products.

·         Get Your Car Ready for the Road: No matter the destination, make sure to do plenty of planning beforehand to ensure your vehicle is ready for the long-haul. That means conducting a car maintenance check for common issues that can cause your car to breakdown. Check items such as:

o   Engine oil

o   Coolant

o   Air intake filter

o   Windshield wiper fluid

o   Tire pressure

o   Cabin air filter

o   Battery

o   Auto emergency kit

Make sure to also thoroughly clean your car inside and out to ensure that your journey is more comfortable and road ready.

For The Journey

·         Make The Drive Easier with Comfort & Entertainment: You can bring a ton of different items with you to stay comfortable and reduce boredom during a long ride. Just be sure to load your vehicle efficiently to optimize space and allow yourself to travel comfortably. Make sure everything you’ll need enroute is easily accessible:

o   Beverages in the cupholders

o   Snacks in the glovebox

o   Entertainment for the kids (don’t forget chargers for electronic devices)

o   Printed road map as a sat-nav back-up

·         Traveling With Family? Bring The Essentials: Taking children on a family road trip can be exciting and tiresome. Ensuring the journey is comfortable and fun for them makes it less stressful for everyone – and allows the driver to keep their concentration on the road. Use appropriate safety carriers for babies and toddlers, with child seats and restraints for older kids.

o   Keep them occupied with books and toys

o   Headphones let them play games and watch films on electronic tablets without everyone else having to listen in

o   For a more inclusive travelling environment, ban such devices and instead play road-trip games for kids that everyone can join in with, such as I-Spy

Of course, with kids and toddlers, come a lot of messes to clean up. Whether it’s food and drink spillages or little accidents of a more urgent kind, you can quickly clean up with Turtle Wax Fresh Interior 1® Multi-Purpose Cleaner. Complete with a brush attachment, this solution cleans and deodorizes in no time.

Restore Your Ride Post-Journey

·         Restore Your Car’s Beauty From Bug Splatter: Whether you want to remove bug blemishes upon arrival to your destination or wait until you get back, Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover is a lifesaver after a long drive with its advanced formula that breaks down and removes bug remnants with a simple-yet-powerful spray solution that’s perfect for on-the-go or post-journey use. Safe on exterior metal, glass and plastic surfaces, it’s best to use this surface cleaner after you wash and before you apply car wax to achieve the best possible finish. You’ll be ready for your next road trip, just like that!