Three in five of UK drivers '˜not roadworthy'

Around three in five of the UK's drivers are not '˜roadworthy', according to a new survey.
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However, the good news is that south-east drivers performed well with an online tool built by Halfords Autocentres.

It has been used to test UK drivers’ roadworthiness and found that 59 per cent of the UK did not pass. Just 11% of UK drivers answered all 10 questions correctly

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From road signs to the law on drink driving, the public were tested with 10 questions relating to car maintenance and the rules of the road.

The quiz asked users for their gender, location and the length of time they’ve been driving for.

It then automatically collects user data each time it is played and has currently had over 130,000 plays.

The question answered incorrectly by the most drivers was ‘What is the blood alcohol limit for drivers in England in Wales?’ - 68 per cent of those quizzed did not know the legal alcohol limit. However, drivers in Scotland - where the limit has recently been lowered - scored the highest on their knowledge of drink driving limits.

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Disturbingly - but perhaps unsurprisingly - those that have been driving for 1-6 months are the least roadworthy and scored the lowest out of everyone who used the tool - with those who have been driving 20+ years the most roadworthy.

Regional figures:

South East

89% (the highest) know when a new car’s first MOT is due

97% know how often they should check their tyre pressure

78% know what the engine temperature dashboard symbol means

Northern Ireland

Average of 6.0/10 questions right

69% of people in Northern Ireland do not know the legal drink drive limit

Two thirds of Northern Ireland are unaware of how much longer it would take them to stop with used tyres

14% do not know which lane to use on a clear motorway

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24% don’t know how often they should check their tyre pressure

62% of Northern Ireland do not know the speed limit on a dual carriageway with street lights

43% of people in Northern Ireland do not know what the engine temperature dashboard symbol means

West Midlands

West Midlands scored the highest of all the regions with an average of 7.3/10 question answered correctly

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People in West Midlands know their tyres - 97% knew they should check their tyre pressure once a month

And 58% (the highest) are aware of how much longer it would take them to stop with used tyres (compared with 33% in Northern Ireland)

Only 2% didn’t know which lane to use on a clear motorway

76% knew what the engine temperature dashboard symbol means

97% of drivers in East Midlands know how often they should check their tyre pressure (the highest of all the regions)

But 72% of people in East Midlands are unaware of the legal alcohol limit

3% don’t know which lane to use on a clear motorway

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But 52% are unaware of the speed limit on a dual carriageway with street lights

34% in the East Midlands do not know what the ‘no motor vehicles’ road sign means

Yorkshire and the Humber

Only 2% of Yorkshire drivers don’t know which lane to use on a clear motorway

58% know the speed limit on a dual carriageway with street lights (the highest of all the regions)

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33% of drivers in Yorkshire do not know what the ‘no motor vehicles’ road sign means

North West

71% of people in the North West are unaware of the legal alcohol limit

4% don’t know which lane to use on a clear motorway

But 78% (the highest) knew just how much concentration levels were affected by illness (by more than half!)

34% in the North West do not know what the ‘no motor vehicles’ road sign means

North East

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85% know the appropriate engine temperature for checking the oil level (the highest)

54% don’t know the speed limit on a dual carriageway with street lights

66% don’t know the legal alcohol limit

7% don’t know how often they should check their tyre pressure

44% don’t know what the engine temperature dashboard symbol means

South West

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55% know the speed limit on a dual carriageway with street lights

Only 3% don’t know which lane to use on a clear motorway

96% know how often they should check their tyre pressure

72% know what the ‘no motor vehicles’ road sign means

SCOTLAND

37% of drivers in Scotland know the legal alcohol limit, the highest out of all UK regions

Men are more roadworthy than women

8% of Scottish drivers don’t know which lane to use on a clear motorway

44% of Scottish drivers are unaware of the difference in stopping time between new and used tyres

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20% of drivers in Scotland don’t know the appropriate engine temperature for checking the engine oil level

38% do not know what ‘no motor vehicles’ means:

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