Warning lights are a major source of roadside assistance call-outs. In 2022, the AA said that it attended more than 17,000 call-outs to vehicles with a warning light. Similarly, in 2023 the RAC reported a 22 per cent rise in breakdowns, year on year, where members reported a warning light appearing on their dashboard and contacted it for help.

However, according to the breakdown cover firm Green Flag, even the common warning lights aren’t easily recognised. Half of drivers couldn’t identify the universal tyre pressure warning light, and 43 per cent couldn’t describe the meaning of the brake system warning light. A third couldn’t even identify the check engine warning light. 

Though The Highway Code recommends drivers should conduct regular basic car maintenance, Green Flag’s research found 86 per cent of drivers do not. This means that potentially critical issues such as oil and coolant levels, tyre pressure and condition, are easily missed, which can result in further issues down the line.