UK motorists have no idea what their dashboards are telling them

One in three cannot recognise the headlamp indicator and 27 per cent can’t identify the ‘check engine’ sign

UK motorists have no idea what their dashboards are telling them
A shocking number of motorists cannot identify crucial symbols such as the 'check engine' light. Image: Bigstock.

The Sun has reported that a significant number of motorists have little knowledge about the symbols on their dashboard – with as many as nine out of ten admitting to seeing an icon which they have no idea of the meaning for.

Shockingly, the report found that three per cent of people would continue to drive their car regardless of warnings until it actually felt unsafe and when they do finally understand what the car is warning them about, very few know how to manage the problem themselves.

The study of 2,000 drivers showed that a staggering 45 per cent would prefer to search online for the answer while the remainder choose to ask a family member or friend or take their vehicle to the garage.

Two out of three people polled did not know how to check the oil, whereas just under fifty per cent would not know how to change a wheel and 44 per cent of people do not know how to change the windscreen wipers.

“Worrying”

A further 58 per cent have no idea what their tyre tread limit should be, when it becomes illegal, or how to check it.

David Carter, spokesman for Accident Advice Helpline, said: “It’s worrying how little drivers know about their own cars.

“Knowing the meaning of a dashboard symbol on your car could be the difference between having an accident or not.”

Worryingly, a quarter of motorists admit they have been late in getting their car through the MOT and of these, 18 per cent took their car to the garage more than 16 days after the test was due.

Most common reasons for missing the car MOT were forgetting, feeling the car was safe and not being able to afford it.

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