Half of drivers can’t name 50 per cent of the warning lights on their car’s dashboard – and only 4 per cent can identify them all correctly, raising serious concerns about traffic safety on the road.
Around 46 per cent of motorists – representing around 23 million license holders in Britain – who took part in a new survey were unable to correctly name half of the indicators found on the instrument cluster as warn them of a problem.
As vehicle technology has improved, this lack of knowledge ‘not only puts drivers at risk but also leads to costly repairs,’ warns Warrantywise, which commissioned the study.
And many drivers said they would ignore the warning lights if they came on.
According to an independent study by Green Flag, 43 percent of drivers ignore the most important dashboard warning signs, and 15 percent ignore the warning lights in their car for more than a week.
When the breakdown assistance provider showed his driver board a variety of symptoms, 96 percent couldn’t name them all.
Take our quiz below to see if you can correctly identify nine dashboard warning lights.
How to understand your dashboard warning lights? Take our quick quiz to test your knowledge
Today’s car dashboards are filled with warning signs that, when illuminated, inform owners about the health of their vehicle.
From simple reminders, such as low washer fluid, to serious warnings about brake system failures and engine malfunctions.
The warning lights follow the traffic light color system: green indicates that the system is working properly or is currently in use; a yellow alert to something that isn’t working properly, take extra care and check it out as soon as possible; and red means there is a serious or potentially serious problem that will stop the drive while working normally.
A recent poll of 2,000 licensees carried out for long-term used car license provider Warrantywise reveals a worrying knowledge gap, with many drivers not understanding what the signs mean and how the speed of action when one appears.
More importantly, the survey also found that three percent of drivers – representing 1.5 million of the 50 million license holders in Great Britain – cannot identify the dashboard warning lights, and remain they are vulnerable to accidental damage.
Ignoring or misdiagnosing a warning light can delay repairs, cause more damage and cost more, and in some cases, endanger the safety of the driver and passengers.
However, Green Flag’s poll of 2,000 drivers found almost two-fifths of drivers had broken down after ignoring warning lights, one in ten had had an accident, and a it’s the same way that their car was damaged by ignoring the specified problem.
The main reasons given by drivers as to why they ignore the warning lights are that they don’t think it’s an emergency (61 per cent), believe their car will be fine (26 per cent) and think it’s too much price (18 percent).
As cars continue to grow, the growing number of warning lights will require more awareness from drivers, says Warrantywise managing director Antony Diggins.
‘Your vehicle’s dashboard warning system is one of its first lines of defense. These warning lights are not only simple – they are essential for your safety and the health of your vehicle,’ explains Antony.
‘New cars bring many advances, but drivers need to be smart.
‘Taking the time to get to know your car can save you thousands in repair costs, and as your car is one of your biggest investments, learning what it means of those warning lights is one of the best ways to protect and stay safe on the road. ‘
In a Green Flag poll, two fifths of drivers said they had broken down after ignoring warning lights, one in ten had had an accident and 10% had broken into their car.
When Green Flag presented the various vehicle warning lights to its panel of 2,000 UK licensees, only two in 50 could not correctly identify what they all meant.
And there is a difference between what motorists think they know and what they know.
While 60 percent believe they can safely display a hazard warning light, more than a fifth can.
Three-thirds of drivers believed they recognized the check engine light, but only two-fifths correctly identified it.
Katie Lomas, manager of the breakdown assistance team, said: ‘Although dashboard warning lights play an important role in the safety and operation of vehicles, many drivers neglect or are unaware of them. critical alert.’
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