/ 23 October 2007

Back-seat toilet to end mishaps in traffic jams

If you’re stuck in traffic when Mother Nature calls, Japan’s Kaneko Sangyo Corporation has developed the loo for you.

The manufacturer of plastic car accessories drew back the curtain on Tuesday on its new portable toilet for cars.

The toilet comes with a curtain large enough to conceal users and a plastic bag to collect waste.

”The commode will come in handy during major disasters such as earthquakes or when you are caught in a traffic jam,” a company official told reporters, according to Kyodo News.

Japan is situated on the Pacific ”Ring of Fire” and accounts for about 20% of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude six or greater.

Drivers stranded by tectonic movements or stuck in tailbacks simply assemble the cardboard toilet bowl, fit a water-absorbent sheet inside and draw round the curtain.

The product is small enough to fit inside a suitcase, the company said.

But prospective customers will have to hang on until November 15, when the firm begins selling the new product online. — Reuters