Gocompare.com: Half of motorists don't understand dashboard warning lights

 
16 November 2016
Almost half of motorists don't understand their dashboard warning lights Gocompare.com has created an interactive guide to help motorists brush up on their driving knowledge.


Almost half (48%) of drivers don't understand their dashboard warning lights


60% have never read their car's manual


Nearly a third (31%) of motorists have no idea whether or not their car has a spare tyre


See how people fared when Gocompare.com took their Dashboard Warning Lights Quiz to the streets


Gocompare.com has created an interactive guide to help drivers better understand their car's warning lights


New research from Gocompare.com Car Insurance has found a glaring lack of knowledge amongst motorists when it comes to their car, with almost half saying that they were unable to identify their car's dashboard warning lights.
The study found that the majority (60%) of drivers haven't read their car's manual. However, many motorists could do with brushing up on their knowledge, as nearly half (48%) admitted to not knowing how to use all their car's features. This includes more than a quarter (28%) who don't know how to use their fog lights, despite the darker and gloomier winter nights creeping in.
Gocompare.com asked 2,000 British motorists which of the following statements they agreed with:



Statement


Yes
%


No
%




I have read the manual to my car


40%


60%




I know how to use all of the controls and features in my car


52%


48%




I understand all of the dashboard display and warning lights on my car


52%


48%




I know how to turn on the fog lights on my car


72%


28%




I know what the service interval is on my car


55%


45%




I know the recommended tyre pressures for my car


53%


47%




I know whether or not my car has any type of spare wheel


69%


31%




I know whether my car is front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or four-wheel drive


56%


44%



Matt Oliver, car insurance spokesperson at Gocompare.com, said: "Thanks to modern technology, cars are now packed with all sorts of complex electronics and sensors that can help drivers to better understand how their vehicle is behaving.
"But while manufacturers are developing new ways to help cars to talk to their drivers, it seems that their efforts are falling on deaf ears.
"None of us buy a new car to sit down and read the manual, but spending some time familiarising yourself with the various features and warning lights could help to save you money and inconvenience.
"Understanding your car's warning lights can help you identify issues early, which means avoiding more serious problems in the long run, saving you money on more costly repairs.
"Similarly, should an accident result in your car being written off, your insurer may take your car's service history into account when calculating its pre-accident value, meaning that a poor service history could leave you out of pocket."
Gocompare.com has created an interactive guide to help drivers better understand the meaning of their dashboard warning lights.
Gocompare.com took to the streets to test the nation on their knowledge of common dashboard warning lights. Watch Gocompare.com's Dashboard Lights Quiz here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jhpwlSG6FU&feature=youtu.be
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For further information please contact:
Martyn John or Daniel Cook at Gocompare.com on 01633 654 725 / 01633654011
Gordon, Jason or Liz at MAW Communications on 01603 505 845
Keep up-to-date with the Gocompare.com press team on Twitter; @Gocomparecomms
Notes to editors:
*Between 18th and 24th May 2016 One Poll conducted an online survey among 2,000 randomly selected British adults.
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