Survey: OAP more likely to manage tyre changing than 18-year-old

Pensioners are more likely to be able to change a flat tyre than spritely 18 – 24 year olds, according to a survey published today by price comparison site gocompare.com. 48 per cent of those surveyed, which equates to over 13.5 million UK motorists, would not be able to change a flat tyre without help, and that figure includes three quarters (75 per cent) of women drivers.

The study, carried out among over 1,400 randomly selected UK drivers, found that only 46 per cent of young drivers said they would be able to change a flat tyre by themselves, compared to 49 per cent of drivers aged 65+, despite the physical nature of the task.

The research also revealed that younger drivers were consistently the least knowledgeable about the features and functions of their car and how to carry out very basic maintenance tasks. Out of 15 questions based on the drivers’ knowledge of their cars and their ability to carry out basic maintenance tasks, the over 65’s outscored 18 to 24 year olds on every single question. Older drivers aged 65+ not only knew more about their cars than 18 to 24 year olds but they would also be more likely to be able to carry out tasks such as checking the engine oil level, changing a headlight bulb, refilling the windscreen washer reservoir and topping up the coolant/anti-freeze.

• 54 per cent of young (18 to 24 year old) drivers could not change a flat tyre without help
• 17 per cent of young drivers do not know if their car has a spare wheel
• 50 per cent of young drivers have not read their car’s manual
• 34 per cent of young drivers do not know how to use all of the controls and features of their car
• 15 per cent of young drivers don’t know how to turn their fog lamps on
• 29 per cent of young drivers don’t understand all of the dashboard display and warning lights in their car
• 64 per cent of young drivers don’t know how to change a bulb for a headlamp, tail light or brake light
• 30 per cent of young drivers don’t know if their car is front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or 4×4.

Half of 18 to 24 year old drivers have not read the user manual to their car compared to just 15 per cent per cent of drivers aged 65+, and over a third of younger drivers (34 per cent) wouldn’t know how to use all of the controls and features of their car, with over 1 in 6 (15 per cent) not knowing how to turn their fog lights on. Nearly a third (30 per cent) of 18 to 24 year old drivers didn’t know if their car was front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or 4×4, which it’s important to know in slippery conditions.

29 per cent of younger drivers do not understand all of the dashboard display and warning lights on their car compared to just 12 per cent of OAPs, and whilst 86 per cent of over 65’s know their car’s service intervals little over half (56 per cent) of 18 to 24 year olds know theirs. 64 per cent of young drivers would not know how to replace a headlight, tail light or brake light bulb on their car and less than half (45 per cent) could manage changing their windscreen wiper blades.

Ironically, although young drivers are the least likely to be able to change a flat tyre without help or carry out basic car maintenance tasks, they are also least likely to have taken any precautions against having a roadside emergency. 68 per cent of 18 to 24 year old drivers said they had breakdown cover compared to 92 per cent of over 65’s.

Scott Kelly, head of car insurance at Gocompare.com, commented: “According to our research, when it comes to knowing and looking after their cars, younger drivers have a lot to learn from our senior motorists. Even relatively simple tasks like changing a bulb or checking the engine oil leave many younger drivers stumped. Taking the time to read your owner’s manual is a must for all drivers, and not knowing if you have spare wheel on board is unforgivable.

“Cars do go wrong and punctures will happen, and the one thing we can all do to protect ourselves from being stranded at the roadside is to take out some kind of breakdown cover to ensure that help will always be on hand as and when we need it. Young drivers are the least likely to have breakdown cover and those without it may just have to hope that a friendly OAP comes to their rescue the next time they’re struggling to change a flat tyre.”