Back to driving school for Brits

A fifth* (21 per cent) of British motorists would fail their driving test if they took it again today, according to Direct Line Breakdown.

Direct Line tested the knowledge of over 1,500 drivers based on the practical car maintenance test, introduced in September 2003. The new section of the test requires learners to carry out basic maintenance on a car to ensure it’s safe for use. Females fared very badly with only 38 per cent of female drivers answering all questions correctly – compared to 81 per cent of male drivers.

Women particularly struggle to identify functions under their car bonnet. Pinpointing the brake fluid proved too difficult for over a half (53 per cent) and one in 10 (14 per cent) couldn’t check their car’s tyre pressure or their tyre’s condition to see whether they were safe to use on the road.

Asked if they thought they would pass their test if they sat it today, only 56 per cent of drivers quizzed felt confident they would, however the majority (64 per cent) also believed they would fail the ‘new’ car maintenance section of the driving test.

Yet car maintenance isn’t the only rusty subject for drivers. Almost one in five (17 per cent) men believe they would fail the driving test, with a quarter (28 per cent) of these agreeing they would not pass if judged on their manoeuvres, 29 per cent say they would fail on their general driving and more than half (56 per cent) on the theory section of the test.

Emma Holyer, Direct Line’s Breakdown spokesperson, said:

“It’s extremely concerning that only 56 per cent of all drivers think they would pass the driving test if they had to retake it – so we’re urging all drivers to brush up on their manoeuvres and general knowledge whether it’s by taking driving lessons or by reading the highway code.

The Direct Line Breakdown research also reveals that one in five (20 per cent) drivers haven’t checked their engine’s oil levels for the past two years and close to half (48 per cent) have failed to see whether their brake fluid is at the correct level – ignoring the government’s recommendation to check these levels weekly.

For more information, log on to www.directline.com

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Emma Holyer /Direct Line Press Office
0208 256 2182 / 07725 944190
Email: emma.holyer@directline.com

Notes to Editors:

The research was carried out on behalf of Direct Line Breakdown by YouGov. A nationally representative sample of 2,101 GB adults were questioned online between 11th to 15th May 2006. Results are weighted to be representative of the GB adult population. YouGov is a member of the British Polling Council.

*According to the findings 21 per cent of drivers think they would fail their driving test if they had to retake it. This figure rises to a quarter among female motorists (25 per cent) and close to a third among young drivers (29 per cent).