Are UK Drivers Skimping on Basic Car Maintenance?

Is the cost of living prompting people to cut corners on car maintenance? Does the average driver know how to check tyre pressures, screenwash, coolant level or other basic tasks? IE thinks not, people tend to rely on modern cars flashing warning emojis at them on the dashboard. Then text their Dad asking what the light means.

But we digress, here’s the latest research from Green Flag;

New research from Green Flag, one of the UK’s leading breakdown providers, reveals that over half (51 per cent) of UK drivers admit to driving with a dirty windscreen because they were out of screen wash. Concerningly, almost half (47 per cent) of 18–34-year-olds admit that they have either had, or were close to having, an accident because their view was obscured by a dirty windscreen.

The research found that drivers only top up their windscreen washer bottle, on average, once every five months, with 16 per cent admitting to only filling up every 7-12 months. This is despite the recommended weekly check and refill in the winter that is advised by The UK Highway Code.

Almost one third of drivers (31%) don’t fill up their own screen wash and one in five drivers (21 per cent) admit they either don’t know if their vehicle has a windscreen washer warning light or don’t believe that it has one, with this rising to 28 per cent for those aged 55 and over.

Failing to have washer fluid in your car is against Section 34 of the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986 and if your windscreen is so dirty you can’t see clearly this would be a breach of Section 40A of the Road Traffic Act 1988. This could mean a driver being hit with a mandatory three penalty points or discretionary disqualification and a fine of up to £2,500.

With colder temperatures and much shorter days upon us, it’s more important than ever for drivers to maintain their vehicles, with a particular emphasis on using a screen wash at the correct concentration for the weather conditions. This will stop the screen wash from freezing when the temperature plummets.

Katie Lomas, Managing Director of Green Flag, commented:

“With the winter months approaching, it’s important that motorists remember to refill their windscreen washer fluid frequently so that they don’t get caught out with a dirty windscreen. Colder temperatures can cause screen wash to freeze making one with an antifreeze added an absolute necessity for drivers. It’s a task that is easy to forget but it’s crucial to ensuring that you’re driving safely and not risking a fine or points on your license.”

Green Flag shares the 5 things you can do at home to equip your car for the winter ahead:

·       Check and top up the windscreen washer bottle weekly, be sure to include a screen wash at the correct concentration in the winter months to tackle ice and salt spray.

·       Check that there is sufficient liquid in the cooling system. Most modern cars have plastic coolant reservoirs, where you can see the level. In older cars, when the engine is cold, unscrew the radiator cap to check the coolant level. Top up as necessary and include antifreeze in the mixture in winter.

·       Always ensure that your car is topped up with the manufacturer-recommended oil with the correct viscosity. This helps the engine to start more easily in the cold.

·       Try to park your car in a garage or a sheltered area to keep it out of the worst of the cold weather.

·       With breakdowns rising in the cold winter months, it makes sense to ensure you have adequate breakdown cover in place.