Safe Speed Forums

A Survey recently found that many motorists don't know what the symbols mean on their dashboard Women Came top with 47% and Men 33%.There are a few Blokes then who are letting the side down
Reutersuk
If they don't the basics what chance the serious stuff

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RoADA Member -GOLD 2008
If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.

A friend of mine has maintained the very poitically incorrect view tha some people are just to stupid to be parents after showing him this thread he has amended it to include being a driver.

Scary stuff !!

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Gordon Brown saying I got the country into it's current economic mess so I'll get us out of it is the same as Bomber Harris nipping over to Dresden and offering to repair a few windows.

Chaos, panic and disorder - my work here is done.

http://www.wildcrafts.co.uk

Yet women are safer, statistically. So if you want to drive well, forget the symbols (expect the ones around the speedo, of course!)

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I stole this .sig

Not supprised.
Why don't people care to find out?

I wonder if any of then has even worked out the colours? (there seems to be a standard) This is what I would do if I didn't know the symbols:

Amber = Stop as soon as possible and work out what the lamp means.
Red = Stop right now, you may not have a chance to stop otherwise!
Anything else means something not so "important". Like lights (green) or bright lights (blue).

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Andrew.

Over the past few months I have intermittently had what is described as an "Engine Warning Light" illuminated on my dashboard.

The handbook says it may indicate a number of a faults and that I should consult my dealer.

I've taken the view that the most likely indication is a faulty light and I should ignore it. And it's not lit up for about five weeks now

If anything obvious goes wrong I'll get it seen to.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I'd rather have words than symbols. How many could instantly tell the difference between the symbol for 'brake linings' and 'handbrake'?

And many cars use the same light for brake linings and brake fluid - two warnings that I would treat VERY differently.

Do new American cars still have text on the warning lights?

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

The survey I read said 47% of women DIDN'T understand, against 33% of men who didn't!

A frind of ours who is 40 but only been driving for a few years came to see us. she usualy drives in town. Half an hour before she should have arive she rang to say there was a light on her dashboard a red triangle.
I was some what concerned! triangle, warning, red danger. she had no handbook. When she arrived it turned out to be the back lit hazard warning switch!!! She dosen't drive much on unlit roads.

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

By Jingo, Oscar's right.

47% of women and 33% of men struggle to understand what the lights mean.

Glad the status quo has been preserved.

What about language barriers?

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
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I was indicating my personal preference.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I can't understand why these people have never bothered to find out what the symbols mean?

Is it just being lazy or being thick?

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

I'd say it's being lazy, they tell you what they are in the cars manual.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

I must admit that until I started working on my own car, I didn't know that the handbrake light also doubles as a brake problem warning.

Last November "Auto Express did a similar survey and found worryingly that drivers - regardless of gender have some worrying car ignorance.

1, Hand Brake/low brake fluid symbol - 100% did not know!

Eh But I know this one and so does each member of the extended family - including the little ones...I am sure some were being sarcastic there ...

2. the Orange or yellow (depends on car) engine fault symbol 69% did not know!



3. Incorrect oil pressure (but it looks like an oil can ... 63% did not know Er!

4. Battery not charging or low on charge it looks like a battery - 50% got it wrong!

5. Airbag problem 25% did not know - yet more know this one thaat the others? How - cos it does not look as obvious to me as the others



6. Fault witht he ABS --- But it says ABS! - 19% got it wrong...

Auto Express went further - they found

1. Knowledge of car's emissions band - 94% did not know

2. Reading of manual - 75% claimed not to..

It's a nice shiny new toy and I play with mine and all its gadgets .- lovingly careesing and appreciating the fine subtleties... .. and Wildy plays with me ..


Yep - am the epitome of "nerd" on this one!

We should have kittens named after these cars (if we were chavs - we would but we gave' 'em all nice "solid sensible names" and then refer to them as "rogues and ruddy 'ooligans!"

3. 69% did not know the vehicle's worth - its depreciation charge from driving off the forecourt to date..

4. 60% claimed not to know the stopping distance of a car at 70 mph

which is one of the reasons we would want the periodic assessment and carrot - but on this one we rather think majority mind's eye and actual judgement is probably spot on even though they cannot quote the Highway Code figure. Because if this were really so - the accident rate for 60% of 32 million on the road would surely be a lot higher....

5. 38% do not know how many miles or kilometers their car does to the gallon or litre.

Auto Express claim they tested drivers at an M1 service area in Bedfordshire. - and found the lack of knowledge "shocking" I wonder who they asked? Driver? Passenger? Most took the handbrake one to be a hand brake indicator - letting them know if the handbrake was engaged...and had not idea it also means low fluid....

The oil pressure sign means PRESSURE and not fluids - and this is a sign of engine overheat - I keep eye on the Stag's dash as she may be a beaty - but she's has this kind of temper tantrums if not treated like a lady

The engine warning? Many said they'd carry on...- buit this thing can mean any number of probs...and can mean the engine will lose power and we go into "limp home mode" I tend to molly coddle the car if it happens and get her to the garage for a health check almost immediately as could be usiung more fuel or emitting more CO2 than she should.

[i] My cars are all female to me and Wildy 's are all blokey!

Amazingly per the magazine - most drivers though the battery light was warning them of a cell problem.

But it's telling you that the battery is not charging - so it could be the fan belt being loose or snapped- and this belt drives the water pump and vacuum belt -so ignoring it is a bit dangerous.

Auto express was shocked by fact their sample did not understand the signs and more so that they did not take any notice of them either.

Simple really - per "Star Trek"


RED= DANGER - and this means a vital 2organ in the car is going wrong and you need to take it to the car doctor immediately for some new bits and medium to major surgery!


ORANGE = with caution and consult the car's GP asap for some medicine like oil or a minor op.

Read the hand book - sit in drive with hand book on lap and play with your car... it's very therapeutic

Auto Express also conducted a spot check on the Highway Code at teh time ...one thought he could stop dead in 3 metres at 70 mph

Yep - perhaps... with a tree .... because he has no COAST skills and another reason why this and not a harping of speed alone should be the message ...

Auto Express dryly reports that even though they exploded the Code's recomendation in their 30 car brake test in issue 883 - this would be a major feat of mechanical engineering Most in their survey failed to identify the "priority sign" at a pinch point... (the one in the lolly iwht the little red arrow and the big black one...)

"Keep Left"

The sign depicting two way traffic when you approach the junction from a one-way...

But these are obvious to me... the ones you should not need to look up in the book

Astoundingly their short survey revealed that a number had no idea of their car's fuel economy even though petrolwas £1 per litre at the time of this survey . and even less idea of their car's eco-friendliness - and far less about greeny driving habits and fuel saving.
And since few know how much their car is worth... car dealers take them for a very fast ride...

As for the reasons for this shock finding per this snap survey? Auto Express's Simon Cooper blames a dependence on technology.



IG, self and my wife have mentioned this before - we have POWER as well as COAST. in our driving /biking/cycling styles



Might I recommend two books for men and women and one aimed at women in particular.

Haynes Glovebox Guide to Car maintenance


Collins Car Basics

Vehicle Maintenance for Women (which all the wimmin in this family bought for themselves and the younger girls growing up as it covers bicycles, motor bikes and cars - and talks in "Greasy Gloria's girly talk" of manicures, shampoos, sets and curlers Wildy bought it for my sister as a joke - only she's a teacher and saw an educational value for her girls at school and the nice thing about this book is that it shows that "car maintenance is a pleasure to savour just as much as a date at the salon!")

Have looked at the book - Clearly illustrated and set out - and I would say a very good book for all - and not just wimmin - the girly talk is a bit irritating though ..

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I must admit it was quite some time before I realised the handbrake light doubled up as a brake fluid/brake problem warning light. It wasn't until I aquired a handbook that I noticed it.

I think symbols are ... better... than words because of translation issues. Imagine driving a car in Russia/China....
However, it is possible for the car to turn on the warning and display a message. My car can display scrolling messages in whatever language you have selected and does so if any of the doors are open while the key is in position 2. If the doors are opened while moving it displays the message, flashes the interior light and beeps.
If you put the handbrake on while driving the red symbol appears and it beeps 3 times but does not display any message. I don't know wat it would do if the problem was elsewere with the brakes. It beeps continuously and flashes the "not wearing seatbelt" light if you are not wearing your seatbelt and have reached some speed (10KM/h probably).
So it is possible for it to detect and display a message, "CHECK HANDBRAKE", "FRONT LEFT BRAKE WORN", "ENGINE ON FIRE" etc.
I'm sure cars will get better displays, maybe some having one large LCD for all readouts, then warning symbols and messages could be displayed easily.

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Andrew.

Liebchen - they skewed the stats to fit the sterotype of course I know what my dash means .. but then can change bulbs, fuses, oil, take out engine - strip it down und put it back together again - und I can change wheels - und Moggie cars are a bit funny over gettting the nuts right.. Und another "madder" breed of Moggie ist a bit funny over... nein ist "rudey"




Agree - but they were introducing basic car mechanics into L-Test.. but ist stil not up to German standard..

But the books which Mad Doc mention - they are good to glance through because they explain the very basics in easiest speak und are good basis to discover more about car und so on. Also a teeny bit of knowledge und right jargon mean Mr Greased Palm Oily Sumpo does not rip you off.

Hear story of one lady today though. she not use POWER before she set off und end up with filthy windscreen - so she stop at motorway service station to get some screen wash ..

Only .... she does not know where the catch ist to undo bonnet und I could see she look all embarrassed und she came to me as I was woman filling up cr with PH sticker und so was all over it.. So she ask me... und I show her und explain - where ist located ... und I ensure she opoen for herself so she remember for next time und I then point out all the main bits in her engine when she open bonnet of car...

She seemed very grateful und bought me a coffee to warm up .... und she recount story of being towed off motorway und she regretted not asking questions before the tow started as she was most uncertain all the time as to what to do und expect to do..

I think she has raised a valid point.. as towing und being towed ... ist a skill - nicht und how many of us not know how to do it properly? We practiced on track.. but have only been towed on track und not for real as not broken down und required tow to date.. but have towed trailer und caravan... und ist a skill which ist not taught or even assessed [i[ und it should be [/i]

Ach - ist off topic a little ...but then prove am all girly Perhap Paulie may split if he think necessary...

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2 weeks ago while going about my business at work, one of the young fair maidens on the evil, parasitic horse enterprise had her bonnet up.

Broke it? I enquired

No, I need to change a headlight bulb and am not really sure what to do. Fair enough, she's only 17.

Have a look in the hand book, I said.

What's a hand book? .

Err it should be in your glove box and tells you about the car.

After a bit she was looking a confused so I showed her how to do it. The bulb was replaced.

No turn the lights on to try it. Ok that works, no try on main beam.

Whats main beam?

Adam - her ploy worked ,didn't it - she got it changed

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on