Most drivers can’t name dashboard warning lights, survey finds

Can you name all the emergency warning lights on your dashboard? Likely not.

A recent US survey from car seat manufacturer Diono reveals that only 7 per cent of drivers felt confident they could name the lights correctly – although more than 50 per cent could identify 9 out of 10 accurately.

This research was conducted in the United States, but it is highly likely that similar findings would be found worldwide.

In addition to a lack of confidence about what vehicle warning lights mean, several other concerning statistics were revealed by the survey:

• 15% of respondents would stop their vehicle immediately upon seeing a warning light
• 19% would keep driving, hoping the issue would go away, thereby risking further damage to the vehicle
• 34% would call someone or do research to understand the warning
• 27% would go straight to an auto repair shop
• 5% admit they would ignore the light unless something else seemed wrong

“Undertaking regular maintenance is necessary to ensure the correct functioning of all vehicle systems to reduce the risk of crashes. If a light shows while driving, you will not immediately have the time to Google it to decide how serious it is,” said MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert.

“The two warning lights correctly identified most often were the airbag and brake warning lights. Lowest accuracy was with the fog light identifier. What the survey did not indicate is how one would respond to these lights – if the brake light displays, do they stop immediately or find their way to a repair centre?”

When asked ‘Why have you ignored a car warning light?’ respondents answered:

• The car was still working, I kept driving (29%)
• I was fearful of repair costs (24%)
• I didn’t know the warning light meaning (21%)
• I felt safe to keep driving (16%)
• Unsure (10%)

These findings are concerning as vehicle warning lights activate for a reason. Driving with one of them on means potentially damaging the vehicle further and putting those around you in a potentially dangerous situation.

The owner’s manual is the most reliable resource to learn what the lights mean as these are specific to your vehicle.

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