Brake: Many cars with broken car lights were on the road in 2009
Posted by Susannah Mayers
Over 40 per cent of drivers have hit the roads over the past year knowing that their vehicle has at least one serious defect, such as a broken car headlight bulb, recent research has found.
A study by Brake and Direct Line found that 42 per cent of motorists drove in the last 12 months with vehicle defects such as worn tyres, poor brakes and dirty mirrors.
The survey also revealed that some motorists had driven in the dark with broken car lights and indicators – which is not only dangerous but illegal.
Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake, said: "This research shows a shockingly low level of knowledge and concern among drivers when it comes to the safety of their vehicle."
She recommended that motorists do a quick daily inspection of their vehicles to check that their windscreens, mirrors, car lights and tyres are not defective.
Kwik-Fit recently released its 2010 Tyre Wall of Shame calendar, which included pictures of seriously defective tyres.
I have to say the bad weather we recently experienced in the UK exposed shocking neglect by road users. I go swimming every morning so I see lots of people going to work. Hardly any of them had bothered to clear their side windows of snow and none of them appeared to have paid attention to their lights or number plates.