Millions cannot identify basic dashboard symbols

London: Millions of British motorists have no idea what some of the basic dashboard symbols mean, with women performing worse than men, research shows.

Despite drivers spending an average of 360 hours behind the wheel, 47 per cent of women and 33 per cent of men struggle to identify common symbols or basic warning lights.

The report for the AA motoring organisation revealed 39 per cent of women and 28 per cent of men could not identify the warning light for main beam headlight, suggesting many of them unwittingly dazzle on-coming drivers.

Also of concern was that 12 per cent of women and 7 per cent of men had no idea what the handbrake warning light was, while only 38 per cent of women against 65 per cent of men knew what the warning lamp indicating high coolant temperature looked like.

"It's worrying that so many female motorists are in the dark over some of the most common dashboard symbols," said Lloyd East at AA Financial Services.

The company said 1,700 representative drivers were asked to identify a range of dashboard singles.

Other findings showed 58 per cent of women against 44 per cent of men could not correctly identify the rear fog light symbol. Most drivers knew what the symbol for oil pressure meant.