SCOTS DRIVERS ‘UNPREPARED’ FOR WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS

One in four drivers in Scotland claim they are not fully competent with basic levels of car maintenance, leaving over two million cars unprepared for the treacherous winter road conditions.

According to a recent survey, commissioned by Cooper BMW, over 40 per cent of drivers in Glasgow, Edinburgh and the surrounding areas (aged 17-75) admit to not being fully competent with even the most basic aspects of car maintenance, such as maintaining oil and water levels and checking tyre pressures.

Of those unprepared for an emergency, more than 11 per cent of all road users in Scotland carry nothing in their vehicle in case of a crisis, equivalent to more than one million cars on the road.

According to the survey, the UK average is six per cent, putting Scottish drivers at almost double the risk.

One in four of Scotland’s road users cannot check and replace their brake pads and over 50 per cent admitted they don’t understand the importance of adjusting their steering alignment.

One third of drivers would need assistance replacing a broken light bulb.

Owners are also guilty of checking their cars too infrequently with over one quarter (28 per cent) admitting to checking their tyre treads less than once every six months.

“Winter a dangerous time” Dino Dichello at Cooper BMW said: “Roads can test cars and their owners at the best of times, but especially in the colder months.

“It’s important that owners, especially younger, more inexperienced drivers, feel confident and prepared to keep their car safe to drive and on the road.”

The number of road users seemingly ‘winging it’ in the icy winter months may be reflective of a lack of understanding of the consequences of such poor upkeep.

The survey found that those with the best understanding of the consequences said they had owned their car for longer than 16 years — perhapsan indication that they have experienced a breakdown or two.