I know more than some people and less than others when it comes to cars. Almost half of drivers questioned in a recent Saga survey admitted that they also knew very little

If my car broke down tomorrow, I wouldn't be able to do a thing about it. Not least because everything under the bonnet is electrical or completely inaccessible. As far as I can see, you need to be a NASA scientist to change a bulb these days.

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Norwich Union's 'Rescue Report' polled more than 600 drivers and reveals a telling story. Today's drivers would rather speak publicly, go to a job interview or subject themselves to a dentist's visit than break down at the side of the road. This is why around 19 million UK motorists rely on roadside recovery for help.

The AA claim their patrols fix about eight out of ten cars at the roadside, however, they say that many of the 4 million breakdowns they attend every year could have been avoided if motorists only knew some basic car maintenance. The ability of the vehicle owner to carry out the most basic mechanical checks could keep their cars on the road.

An AA survey shows just nine per cent of vehicle owners know that the minimum legal tyre tread depth is 1.6mm.

The vehicle breakdown recovery industry in the UK is worth about £1.8bn each year and supports more than 19 million members. An assessment of the breakdown industry undertaken by Which magazine in 2002 revealed that the AA outperformed all of their competitors with the RAC finishing in second place. Back then, the AA was the most likely to reach you in under 30 minutes. Reaching more than 50 per cent of call-outs within this time. However, another more recent independent survey showed that the RAC are now top of the tree.

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Heading for a breakdown?