Half of drivers can’t name 50 per cent of the warning lights on their car’s dashboard – and just 4 per cent can correctly identify them all, raising major concerns about the safety of vehicles on the road.
Some 46 per cent of motorists – who represent 23million licence holders in Britain – taking part in a new study couldn’t correctly name half of the symbols that show up on 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 avoidable and costly repairs,’ warns Warrantywise, which commissioned the research.
And an alarming number of drivers have said they ignore warning lights if they do come on.
According to a separate study by Green Flag, 43 per cent of motorists disregard critical dashboard warning signs, with 15 per cent ignoring illuminated warning lights in their car for more than a week.
When the breakdown assistance provider showed its driver panel a selection of the different symbols, 96 per cent couldn’t name all of them.
Take our quiz below to see if you can correctly identify nine dashboard warning lights.
How well do you know your dashboard warning lights? Take our quick quiz to test your knowledge
Modern car dashboards are now awash with warning symbols which, when illuminated, are they to inform owners about their vehicle’s health.
They range from simple reminders, such as low washer fluid, to serious warnings about brake system failures and engine malfunctions.
Warning lights follow a traffic light colour system: green signifies the system is working correctly or is currently in use; yellow alerts to something not working correctly and to take extra care and check it out 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 poll of 2,000 licence holders carried out on behalf of extended used car warranty provider Warrantywise highlights a troubling knowledge gap, with many drivers unclear about what the signals mean or how urgently they should act when one appears.
Even more concerning, the survey also revealed that three per cent of drivers – which represents around 1.5 million of the 50 million licence holders in Great Britain – are unable to identify any dashboard warning lights at all, leaving them particularly vulnerable to unexpected breakdowns.
Ignoring or misinterpreting a warning light can result in delayed repairs, leading to more extensive damage and higher costs, and, in some cases, this could even compromise driver and passenger safety.
Yet Green Flag’s own poll of 2,000 drivers found that nearly two fifths of drivers have broken down after ignoring warning lights, one in ten have had an accident, and a similar number caused damage to their vehicle by overlooking the problem highlighted.
The most common reasons given by drivers for why they ignore warning lights include not thinking it was urgent (61 per cent), believing their car would be fine (26 per cent) and thinking repair would be too expensive (18 per cent).
As cars continue to evolve, the growing variety of warning lights demands greater awareness from drivers, Warrantywise’s managing direction, Antony Diggins says.
‘Your car’s dashboard warning system is one of its first lines of defence. These warning lights aren’t just about convenience – they’re essential for your safety and the health of your vehicle,’ Antony explains.
‘Modern cars bring incredible advancements, but they also require drivers to stay informed.
‘Taking the time to understand your car could save you thousands in repair costs, and with your car likely being 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 poll by Green Flag, two fifths of drivers said they have broken down after ignoring warning lights, one in ten have had an accident, and 10% caused damage to their vehicle
When Green Flag showed a variety of vehicle warning lights to its panel of 2,000 UK licence holders, just two in 50 were unable to accurately identify the meaning of them all.
And it found a clear discrepancy between what motorists thought they knew and their actual knowledge.
Despite 60 per cent believing they could confidently identify the brake pad warning light, just over a fifth could.
Three quarters of drivers believed they were familiar with the check engine light, but just two fifths correctly identified it.
Katie Lomas, managing director of the breakdown assistance group, said: ‘Despite dashboard warning lights playing a critical role in safety and vehicle performance, many drivers are neglecting or unable to recognise these vital alerts.’
