Millions of British motorists are suffering from a growing phenomenon of ¿motor-phobia¿ according to a new report released today.
- RAC report reveals technology and lack of motor education to blame
Millions of British motorists are suffering from a growing phenomenon of “motor-phobia” according to a new report released today.
The RAC Breakdown Britain report canvassed the opinions of RAC patrols across the UK and uses its unique call-out data to help paint a more accurate picture of the real issues facing motorists on our roads.
According to the findings, increasingly complex technology is baffling the modern day motorist and creating a reluctance to conduct even the most basic car maintenance tasks such as checking the oil and water levels.
More than half (56%) of patrols say most motorists now fear looking under the bonnet of their vehicle and as a result almost all (97%) say that car owners now tend to automatically rely on others to fix problems for them rather than reading up on them or tackling the problem themselves.
The research also reveals despite people spending more time than ever before on the road, an improvement in motorists’ awareness of their own vehicle and its workings could help prevent some of the 65,000 RAC call-outs where no fault is found.
Key findings from the RAC Breakdown Britain report are:
- A quarter of all call outs could be prevented if owners had read their car handbooks
- Misinterpretation of warning lights as a more serious problem account for a third of all call outs
- Punctured tyres and flat batteries are the top reasons for call-outs, accounting for almost 400,000 RAC calls each year
- More than half of patrols cite the increasing usage of gadgets such as Satellite Navigation, in-car DVD systems and MP3 players as the cause of the rise in the number of call-outs for battery related breakdowns in the past three years
- Almost nine out of 10 (88%) patrols express concern about the number of vehicles on the road without a spare tyre, particularly when RAC call-out data reveals a punctured tyre is the most common reason for breakdown, accounting for 200,000 call-outs annually
- Only one in five motorists regularly conducts the recommended tyre, oil and water checks.
Commenting on the findings of the report, Sam Hudson, RAC operations manager, said: “Throughout the last decade a huge number of innovations have been introduced to make the experience of driving safer and more enjoyable. However, these same technologies have distanced owners from their vehicle, as many motorists fear damaging sensitive, and often expensive, devices. This has created a mindset in which drivers would rather do nothing, than risk causing harm to their vehicle. But drivers could save themselves valuable time, money and the distress of a breakdown by investing just a little time in better understanding their vehicle”
The report also reveals the nation’s top breakdown cities. Croydon tops the list, with more than 7,500 call-outs on average each year, followed by Leicester (4,979). Completing the top ten breakdown spots across the country are:
Britain’s breakdown hotspots
|
| Town/Postcode | Call-outs per annum |
| 1. | Croydon (CR0) | 7,585 |
| 2. | Leicester (LE3) | 4,979 |
| 3. | Bristol (BS16) | 4,973 |
| 4. | Maidenhead (SL6) | 4,961 |
| 5. | Crawley (RH10) | 4,850 |
| 6. | Winchester (SO21) | 4,832 |
| 7. | Harlesden (NW10) | 4,749 |
| 8. | Brighton (BN1) | 4,721 |
| 9. | Horley (RH6) | 4,703 |
| 10. | Cardiff (CF14) | 4,491 |
Sam Hudson, comments: “The Breakdown Britain research is a first of its kind for RAC and enables us to build a better understanding of what life is like on the road for both our patrols and motorists. Our patrols attend call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and are therefore ideally placed to provide us with an accurate insight into today’s motoring issues, enabling us to offer motorists practical solutions to their problems.”
RAC attends to over 2.5 million roadside assistance call-outs each year. And whilst tyres and batteries top the list of rescue reasons, the research also revealed the other ways in which RAC patrols help people across the UK:
- One current RAC patrol delivered a baby
- Four in 10 patrols have rescued a celebrity
- One in 10 patrols has attended a wedding related call-out, including retrieving a ring and delivering a bride to the altar.
Motorists can find out more information on how to deal with basic breakdown problems at the Owning a Car section at www.rac.co.uk.
- Read the RAC Breakdown Britain report
-ends-
RAC Press office contact:
Adam Cracknell on 01603 684916/07800 699517 or Sonia Clarke on 0207 908 6570/Jasmine Agbulos on 0207 908 6402
Notes to editors:
An indepth survey was completed by 400 RAC patrols between 20 and 31 October 2006.
The results were compiled by The Survey Shop between 6 and 14 November 2006.
Internal data and statistics have been supplied by RAC MI.
About RAC
With around seven million members, RAC is one of the UK's most progressive motoring organisations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, windscreen repair and replacement, learning to drive, vehicle inspections and checks, legal and financial services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information - RAC is able to meet motorists’ needs. RAC incorporates BSM, RAC Auto Windscreens, RAC Direct Insurance and HPI.
Aviva bought RAC in May 2005. The acquisition brings together RAC's powerful brand and customer base with the expertise and leading position in motor insurance of Norwich Union Insurance (part of Aviva). Norwich Union is the UK's largest insurer, insuring one in seven motor vehicles and with a market share of around 15%.
RAC’s news releases and a selection of images are available from the internet press centre at www.racnews.co.uk.