More than half of drivers don't know how to change a tyre, new survey finds

By Fleet News
|
2 February 2016

More than half of drivers do not how to change a tyre while 28% do not know how to open their car bonnet, new research from Leasing Options has found.

The vehicle leasing company surveyed more than 1,000 drivers and found that less than 50% of respondents across major UK cities, including Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, London and Newcastle, know how to carry out basic tasks, such as changing a tyre, checking brake fluid or adjusting the height of a steering wheel.

While collectively 71% of UK drivers know how to open their car bonnet, one-third of women (34%) and more than half (58%) of 25- to 34-year-olds do not know how to open their car bonnet.

Additionally, less than a quarter (24%) of 18- to 24-year-olds know how to change a tyre.

Mike Thompson, brand manager at Leasing Options, said: “We want to ensure Brits are safe on the roads when the weather makes driving conditions more risky. We were shocked by some of the results and as a nation we need to make time to get to know our cars.

“Carrying out tasks on your vehicle without the correct knowledge can not only put yourself but others on the road in danger.

"We recommend that drivers who are unsure about the correct procedures to follow do not carry out the tasks themselves but seek help from a professional.”

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Author: Fleet News

Comments (7)

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Comments

Andy - 02/02/2016 10:49

I don't know how to change a tyre, I get the garage to do that. I DO know how to change a wheel though ;-)
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daca - 02/02/2016 10:51

It is a shame that 'fleet news' are reporting on a survey that is for a specialist and not a member of the public here. The headline should read change a wheel and not a tyre!
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Julian Tighe - 02/02/2016 10:52

Surely you mean "change a wheel" as changing a "tyre" necessitates professional tyre removal equipment ?!?
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Gareth Roberts - 02/02/2016 10:58

I think you're splitting hairs. Clearly tyre and wheel in this instance mean the same thing. Have you never referred to your spare tyre?
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Glyn Holloway - 02/02/2016 11:28

What is more appalling is the number of cars that now come without a spare for those of us who do know how to change a wheel. My Mercedes e300 comes with a tin of goo. Not even run flats either
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- Jude O - 02/02/2016 11:55
  
  Glyn the reason the manufacturers now supply what you call 'goo' is because the weight of a spare wheel & tyre increases the environmental impact of the vehicle by quite a lot and when they have targets to meet to reduce things like CO2, it all counts quite substantially I'm afraid.
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  - bob the engineer - 02/02/2016 18:27
    
    They claim environmental reasons of course but I don't think a spacesaver really does have such a big impact. I am far more certain that a cheap pump and tin of goo cost about £10 and a spare wheel about £100. Pure profit, and then if the car even has space for one they can put it on the option list and make even more money.
    
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Busterrabbit - 02/02/2016 11:30

With an increasing number of cars supplied with no spare wheel, and health and safety issues changing a wheel at the roadside it's no surprise. I'm more worried about drivers not knowing how to turn their lights on! With instruments that are illuminated with the ignition there seems to be a far greater number of cars without lights on at dawn/dusk and even in heavy rain. Yes some have DRLs, but that doesn't help being seen from the rear on a spray covered motorway.
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Judith Olsen - 02/02/2016 11:52

I'm absolutely flabbergasted by these results and as someone who's worked in delivering fleet units for over 20 years, I'm completely at a loss how this can happen if the handover by the dealership has been carried out properly. Perhaps it's not just the drivers that need to learn from this research but the dealerships too - would it not raise questions with regard to duty of care by the dealership. How very disappointing for the dealership fleet departments and / or their driving team!
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