Modern cars leave Brits at the roadside

Modern cars are leaving UK motorists confused with over a third of UK drivers (37%) admitting that they can't even understand the lights or warnings on their dashboards and in the event of a breakdown, three quarters (74%) admit they would be unable to repair their car, according to research by Britannia Rescue.

Nearly half of British motorists (47%) admit to having a poor or ‘non existent' understanding of modern car engines, with just one in twenty (5%) believing they have an excellent understanding.

Only 4% of motorists said they would feel confident enough to make major repairs if they were to break down with a further 18% only able to make basic repairs to their cars.

Not wanting to admit that they are beaten by modern cars and living up to common stereotypes, 71% of men say their knowledge of cars is average or above, despite them admitting they aren't capable of fixing their car in the event of a breakdown. Men are also more reticent to admit a total lack of knowledge with only 10% acknowledging they know nothing about modern cars compared to 30% of women.

To compound the difficulty motorists have with modern cars, commonly used abbreviations are not making things any clearer:

Over a quarter (28%) of Brits don't know the abbreviation of MPV stands for Multi Person Vehicle

(63%) of Brits mistakenly think FWD standards for Four Wheel Drive. In fact it is an abbreviation for Front Wheel Drive

Under a quarter of motorists (24%) didn't correctly identify the abbreviation of ABS as anti-lock braking system

Emma Holyer, spokesperson for Britannia Rescue, said: "There is little doubt that innovation has made driving a far more pleasurable experience, but it has made part time weekend mechanics a thing of the past. With many cars relying on complex electronics or technology, many problems now require specialist equipment, as well as specialist knowledge, to get the problem fixed.

"This means it is even more vital that motorists take out breakdown cover, so if something does go wrong with their car they are able to get back on the road as easily and quickly as possible."

Britannia Rescue offers three levels of care - Standard, Comprehensive and Deluxe.

Standard cover, for people who need cover anywhere over half a mile from their home includes roadside assistance, nationwide recovery, caravan and trailer cover plus help in the event of theft or vandalism.

Comprehensive cover is the next level of care and is designed for drivers who need road rescue and a home call service combined. It includes the same as standard cover but with the addition of the home call option.

Deluxe cover is the top level of cover and designed for drivers who want a road rescue service that includes all the elements of comprehensive cover plus the added benefit of overnight hotel accommodation or a replacement car for 48 hours. Cover on permanent named vehicles is also extended to include travel in Europe.