Younger drivers lack even basic car check skills and most don’t know how to change a tyre, dip the oil or find a destination without sat nav and nearly half are even not confident of being able to refill the screen wash bottle!

The survey of 2,000 drivers by Continental Tyres found a shocking lack of knowledge among 18 to 24 year old drivers even though they recognise it costs them more to have someone ese do it or pay for a repair which could have been avoided by checking.

Mark Griffiths, safety expert at Continental Tyres said: “A lack of confidence and know-how on routine maintenance issues like tyre tread depth, tyre pressure and visibility present risks that could result in accidents. It is also likely to mean that younger drivers are spending money they don’t need to by requiring professional help to do simple tasks.

“Maybe older people have a ‘make do and mend’ mentality where their younger counterparts believe the options are simply update or upgrade as that is the world they have grown up in. However, being able to confidently tackle minor maintenance has a bearing on safety for all road users.”