Half of drivers cannot name 50 percent of the warning lights on their car’s dashboard, and only 4 percent can identify them all correctly, raising major concerns about vehicle safety on the road.
Some 46 per cent of motorists (representing 23 million license holders in Britain) who took part in a new study were unable to correctly name half of the symbols that appear in the instrument cluster to alert them to a problem.
As vehicles become more technologically advanced, this lack of understanding “not only puts drivers at risk but could also lead to costly and avoidable repairs,” warns Guaranteewise, which commissioned the research.
And an alarming number of drivers have said they ignore warning lights if they come on.
According to an independent Green Flag study, 43 percent of drivers ignore critical dashboard warning signs, and 15 percent ignore illuminated warning lights on their car for more than a week.
When the roadside assistance provider showed the driver’s panel a selection of the different symbols, 96 per cent could not name them all.
Take our quiz below to see if you can correctly identify nine dashboard warning lights.
How well do you know the warning lights on your dashboard? Take our quick quiz to test your knowledge
Modern car dashboards are now littered with warning symbols that, when illuminated, inform owners of the status of their vehicle.
They range from simple reminders, such as low windshield washer fluid levels, to serious warnings about brake system failure and engine malfunction.
The warning lights follow a traffic light color system: green means the system is working properly or is currently in use; yellow alerts that something is not working properly and to be very careful and get it checked as soon as possible; and red means there is a serious and potentially dangerous problem and you should stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so.
A recent survey of 2,000 license holders conducted on behalf of used car extended warranty provider, Guaranteewise, highlights a worrying knowledge gap, with many drivers unclear about what the signs mean or how urgently they should act when one appears.
Even more worrying is that the survey also revealed that three per cent of drivers (representing around 1.5 million of the 50 million license holders in Britain) are unable to identify any warning lights on the dashboard, leaving them particularly vulnerable to unexpected breakdowns.
Ignoring or misinterpreting a warning light can lead to delays in repairs, leading to further damage and higher costs, and in some cases this could even compromise the safety of the driver and passengers.
However, Green Flag’s own survey of 2,000 drivers found that almost two-fifths of drivers broke down after ignoring warning lights, one in ten had an accident and a similar number caused damage to their vehicle when passing. overlook the highlighted problem.
The most common reasons given by drivers for ignoring warning lights include not thinking it was urgent (61 percent), believing their car would be fine (26 percent), and thinking the repair would be too expensive (18 percent). .
As cars continue to evolve, the growing variety of warning lights demands greater awareness from drivers, says Guaranteewise CEO Antony Diggins.
‘Your car’s dashboard warning system is one of your first lines of defense. These warning lights are not just a matter of convenience: they are essential for your safety and the health of your vehicle,” explains Antony.
‘Modern cars bring incredible advances, but they also require drivers to stay informed.
‘Taking the time to understand your car could save you thousands of dollars in repair costs, and since your car is probably one of your biggest investments, learning what those warning lights mean is one of the best ways to protect it and stay safe. on the road. ‘
In a Green Flag survey, two-fifths of drivers say they have suffered a breakdown after ignoring witnesses, one in ten have had an accident and 10% have caused damage to their vehicle.
When Green Flag showed a variety of vehicle warning lights to its panel of 2,000 UK license holders, only two in 50 could not accurately identify the meaning of all of them.
And he found a clear discrepancy between what drivers thought they knew and their actual knowledge.
Although 60 per cent believed they could confidently identify the brake pad warning light, just over a fifth could do so.
Three-quarters of drivers believed they were familiar with the check engine light, but only two-fifths identified it correctly.
Katie Lomas, managing director of the breakdown assistance group, said: “Despite dashboard warning lights playing a vital role in vehicle safety and performance, many drivers neglect or fail to recognize these vital alerts. “.
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