Study: More than half of all Floridian drivers find dashboard symbols confusing and hard to understand

Every state in the U.S. has room to criticize its citizens when it comes to automobile driving habits and knowledge of “rules of the road;” and the Sunshine State of Florida is no exception.  A recent survey of Floridian drivers conducted by law firm Florin Roebig has uncovered a concerning trend: “many drivers are struggling to understand their vehicle’s dashboard warning lights.”  This knowledge gap could lead to an increased risk of accidents, deficiencies in general auto care and maintenance, and, highlights a critical flaw in driver education. 

Aside: My dad used to refer to those automobile warning symbols as “idiot lights” and once, when I was 17, called me a <blinkety-blank> idiot for not paying attention to them. 🙂

Key findings:

• 51% of Floridian drivers find dashboard symbols confusing and not easy to understand.
• 32% of drivers feel very confident identifying all warning lights on their dashboards.
• 35% admit to having ignored a car warning light before.
• Only 72% can spot a tire pressure warning, yet 14% mistake it for being told to stop and eat.
• A surprising 49% of drivers incorrectly identified the “high beam on” headlights sign.

The full study where over half of Floridian drivers find dashboard warning lights confusing,  is below, complete with the study’s findings, methodology and imagery – as provided by Florin Roebig.

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Over half of Floridian drivers find dashboard warning lights confusing, according to the study.

• 51% of drivers find dashboard symbols confusing and not straightforward.
• 32% of Floridian drivers feel very confident identifying all warning lights on their dashboards.
• 35% admit to having ignored a car warning light before.
• Only 72% can spot a tire pressure warning, yet 14% mistake it for being told to “stop and eat.”
• A startling 49% of drivers incorrectly identified the “high beam on” headlights sign.

The comprehensive survey, which polled a statistically relevant sample of 1,068 Floridian drivers, aimed to gauge their understanding of the various signs and symbols that appear on their dashboards. The results paint a stark picture: as vehicles become increasingly sophisticated, many drivers are left in the dark when it comes to interpreting these crucial warnings.

Perhaps more alarming is how some drivers respond to these dashboard signals. The study uncovered a disturbing tendency among Floridians to disregard or misinterpret warning lights, potentially setting the stage for dangerous situations on the road.

John Hart, a seasoned Attorney at Law from leading Florida car accident lawyer Florin Roebig, emphasized the gravity of the situation:

“The ability to interpret dashboard warnings could mean the difference between safety and tragedy for drivers, passengers, and other road users alike. These indicators are not mere decoration – they’re vital safety features that demand attention. Ignoring them should never be an option. If you encounter an unfamiliar warning sign, consult your vehicle’s manual immediately. Alternatively, snap a photo and utilize resources like Google or ChatGPT for quick identification. Once informed, seek professional mechanical assistance if necessary, but never ignore a dashboard warning.”

Summary Analysis of Findings

Confidence in Dashboard Literacy: When asked, “Do you feel confident you can identify all the warning lights on your vehicle?”, the responses were as follows:

• 8% are not confident at all.
• 22% are slightly confident.
• 31% are somewhat confident.
• 32% feel very confident.
• Only 7% are completely confident.

Handling of Warning Lights: When asked, “What would you do if a warning light came on and you didn’t know what it meant?”, drivers gave the following responses:

• 15% would stop immediately.
• 19% would keep driving and hope the issue was resolved.
• 34% would call for advice or Google it.
• 27% would go directly to a repair shop.
• 5% would only act if something else seemed wrong.

Ease of Symbol Recognition: When asked, “Do you think symbols on car dashboards are easy to understand?”, Floridian drivers said:

• 29% find symbols easy to understand.
• 51% find them confusing.
• 20% are unsure.

Likelihood to Ignore Warning Lights: When asked, “How likely are you to ignore a warning light?”, drivers responded:

• 67% are not likely to ignore a warning light.
• 21% are somewhat likely to ignore it.
• 12% are very likely to dismiss the light.

Admission of Ignoring Warnings: When asked, “Have you ever ignored a car warning light?”, drivers responded:

• 35% have ignored a warning light before.
• 55% have never ignored one.
• 10% are unsure if they have.

Reasons for Ignoring Warnings: For the 35% of drivers who admitted to ignoring a warning light, their reasons were as follows:

• 10% were unsure what the warning light meant.
• 21% didn’t know what it meant.
• 29% said the car was still working, so they carried on driving.
• 24% feared the cost of repairs.
• 16% knew what the light meant but felt safe to continue.

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Could Floridian drivers correctly label these 9 common warnings?

1 – Engine warning light

Drivers were shown this image:

And gave the following answers:

1: Check toolkit – 17%

2: Engine management/check engine – 63%

3: Parking lot near – 6%

4: Sat-nav connection error – 14%

63% of drivers selected the correct answer, Engine management/check engine.

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2 – Tire warning light

Drivers were shown this image: 

And gave the following answers:

1: Low tyre pressure – 72%

2: Trunk weight is too heavy – 7%

3: Put your foot down – 7%

4: Stop and eat – 14%

72% of drivers selected the correct answer, Low tyre pressure.

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3 – Oil warning light

Drivers were shown this image:

And gave the following answers:

1: Top up the windscreen washer fluid – 18%

2: Top up oil – 65%

3: Top up water – 5%

4: Top up petrol/diesel – 12%

65% of drivers selected the correct answer, Top up oil.

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4 – Hood open warning

Drivers were shown this image:

And gave the following answers:

1: Something has collided with the windshield – 1%

2: The windshield is loose/not fitted correctly – 4%

3: The hood is not closed – 71%

4: There is something unexpected under the hood – 7%

5: Wiper blades malfunction – 17%

71% of drivers selected the correct answer, The hood is not closed.

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5 – Washer fluid warning

Drivers were shown this image:

And gave the following answers:

1: Fountain ahead – 2%

2: Washer fluid reminder – 76%

3: Fuel tank leak – 4%

4: Top up petrol/diesel – 10%

5: No reading books whilst driving – 8%

76% of drivers selected the correct answer, Washer fluid reminder.

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6 – Front fog lights on

Drivers were shown this image:

And gave the following answers:

1: The front fog lights are on – 32%

2: The back fog lights are on – 34%

3: The brake pads are OK – 21%

4: There’s a green light GO – 13%

32% of drivers selected the correct answer, The front fog lights are on.

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7 – Airbag warning light

Drivers were shown this image:

And gave the following answers:

1: Someone waving – 4%

2: Airbag warning – 89%

3: No bubblegum whilst driving – 1%

4: Stay seated – 6%

89% of drivers selected the correct answer, Airbag warning.

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8 – High beam headlights on

Drivers were shown this image:

And gave the following answers:

1: Headlights are on – 42%

2: Sidelights are on – 3%

3: Low beam – 4%

4: High beam – 51%

51% of drivers selected the correct answer, High beam.

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9 – Brake warning light

Drivers were shown this image:

And gave the following answers:

1: Headlights are on – 42%

2: Sidelights are on – 3%

3: Low beam – 4%

4: High beam – 51%

51% of drivers selected the correct answer, High beam.

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Methodology

The survey was conducted online via the survey platform SurveyMonkey between September 1 and September 14, 2024.

Sample Size & Demographics:

• The total sample size of 1,068 Florida resident participants, aged 18 – 65, was chosen to achieve a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of ±3%. This size is sufficient to allow for statistically relevant results across multiple subgroups.
• The sample included an equal mix of men and women.
• The qualifying criteria were Florida residents who hold a valid driver’s license and drive at least every day.

Conclusion:

Many of the dashboard symbols for your vehicle are generic and are the same for all cars.  A few may be specific to your unique conveyance.  All the symbols for your vehicle are available in your car’s owner’s manual. We should all familiarize ourselves with those very important symbols for safety’s sake and to keep our cars properly maintained.

Safe Travels to all Our Readers

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(Source:  Florin Roebig)
(Cover photo and all images used in this article: Image credit: © Florin Roebig)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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