‘Ignorance of the law is no excuse’ and a reported one-in-four motorists has simply never picked up their copy of the Highway Code since first passing their driving test, according to data gathered by Halfords Autocentres as part of its Roadworthiness Week campaign. The nationwide servicing and repair chain surveyed over 22,000 customers as part of a Roadworthiness Quiz, which uncovered the disturbing fact.
In fact, a total of 36% of drivers confessed to not reading the rules of the road since passing their test, with one-in-five drivers admitting that it was over a decade since they picked up the road users’ manual.
Andy Randall, Halfords Autocentres Managing Director, said: “Our Roadworthiness Quiz has produced some very interesting findings, including that some drivers could benefit from refreshing their knowledge of the rules of the road. We’re as passionate about road safety as your organisation is, which is why we want people to prepare ahead of the half-term holiday period.”
The quiz featured 11 questions aimed at testing drivers’ knowledge, in a fun, interactive format, which also aimed to help road users understand some of the newer, or less well-known of motoring laws. If you wish to try it yourself, it can be found at www.halfordsautocentres.com/advice/news/quiz-how-roadworthy-are-you.
As well as the Highway Code questions, motorists can test their knowledge of ‘queue jumping’, find out the laws around windscreen washers and tyre tread depth, as well as gaining tips on how to ensure their car passes its MOT first time around. The aim is to provide a bit of fun, although the interactive quiz also broadens drivers’ knowledge and can help keep our roads safer, as well as putting road safety and preventative maintenance at the front-of-mind for those undertaking long road trips during the school half-term.
The initiative has won the support of Highways England, which is very keen to keep the country’s network of motorways and major A-roads running smoothly and safely during the first big getaway of 2019. Richard Leonard, Highways England Head of Road Safety, said: "We want all drivers to arrive at their destinations safely, and we urge Motorists to make sure they are ready for their journey by checking their vehicles beforehand. Simple checks of things like tyre treads and pressures, along with making sure you have plenty of fuel and oil in the vehicle, can all help to prevent breakdowns. This quiz will remind people helpfully about the importance of those checks."
There are 85,000 breakdowns a year on our country’s roads and, of those, around 40% are preventable with better vehicle maintenance. Fewer breakdowns can also equate to better safety all round, for drivers, their passengers and those involved in recovery and incident management on the nation’s roads.
