Lost your spare tyre? Are we a nation of dipsticks when it comes to knowing about our cars? In Girl Torque this week, JACKIE VIOLET looks at new research In association with Saab

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 27, 2007

Byline: JACKIE VIOLET

WE BRITS may claim to be a nation of car lovers but millions of us just wouldn't know where to start if their car went wrong.

Research by breakdown specialist Green Flag reveals that more than nine million motorists - nearly 30% of the country's drivers - admit they don't know their way around their motor, a basic skills gap that could lead to significant time waiting around at the roadside if they ever broke down.

More than 3.5 million motorists are unsure about how to do something as basic as open the bonnet (11%).

Additionally, others don't know where to find the dipstick (13%), how to fill up windscreen washers (13%) or how to check tyre pressure (22%).

Furthermore, over two million motorists wouldn't recognise the low oil light if it flicked on (85%) while nearly a million have no idea what the low fuel signal looks like (3%).

Given this, it's no surprise that running out of fuel is one of the most common reasons for car breakdowns!

Many wouldn't be able to get their car started again should they come to a grinding halt.

Just over 2.5 million drivers have no idea where to find their spare tyre (8%) and 16 million wouldn't know how to change the spare wheel should they have a puncture (49%).

The research also highlights that women drivers are worse than men when it comes to knowing their own car.

Well why should we? We are not stupid.

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