Staffordshire women rely on Santa’s little helpers for motor assistance

Dec. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- It’s a sad fact that women and cars go together like engine oil and water – and, now, a survey has confirmed the shocking truth about Stafford’s female motorists.

Undertaken to try to dispel the myths that women are clueless about cars – especially during the winter months – the survey failed to prove otherwise, leaving ladies clearly in the slow lane.

From the results, it appears that a startling 82 per cent of those polled do not check their car in the winter months.

With the preoccupation of preparing for Christmas Day celebrations, ensuring that their car is road safe is at the bottom of the women of Stafford’s to-do list. But if their trusty motors conk out on the way to do the food shopping, they won’t be the only ones to miss out.

The festive season is one of the most problematic times of the year for drivers: traffic is heavy, cars freeze up – and driving conditions change for the worse, leading to accidents.

The results also show that over two-thirds (67 per cent) of women rely on their other half to regularly maintain their car’s oil and anti-freeze levels, tyre pressure and windscreen wipers.

Women are in the passenger seat as stereotype is confirmed

Tim Pickering, managing director for Vision Vauxhall, says: “The results make for interesting reading and really highlight the fact that women still fall into the stereotype for lacking basic car maintenance awareness. Despite women leading a more independent life, our results show that Stafford’s females still rely on the men in their life, or mechanics, to service their motors.

“There are lots of free checks which can be done on their vehicles – vital at this time of year. Yet, it appears that the women of Stafford don’t know their way around the underside of the bonnet, with 77 per cent admitting that they would sooner figure out the buttons on their dashboard by trial and error than by referring to the manual.”

The number of women on the UK’s roads is set to overtake that of men*, yet women still don’t have the basic DIY car maintenance knowledge which most men have.

A staggering 65 per cent of women would sooner take their cars to a garage for a service for things which could easily be done at home, had they got the understanding.

Christmas wish-list

With a seemingly never-ending list of things to do in the run up to the festive season, it’s easy to overlook your car, which may also be in need of some festive TLC.

Avoid the roadside this Christmas and book in for a MasterFit Winter Safety Check at Vision Vauxhall, in Stafford. Carried out by an expertly trained Vauxhall technician, it includes a visual check for any potential safety issues, a tyre-inflation check and a top-up of all vital fluids (500ml max) – all for just £25.

Each Winter Safety Check customer also receives a free Autoglym Winter Care Pack, worth £20, consisting of 500ml de-icer, 500ml screenwash, an ice-scraper and a Hi-Tech Interior Microfibre Cloth.

To book your car in for the Winter Safety Check, contact Vision Vauxhall (01785 891650) or visit the garage in Walton-on-the-Hill, Stafford.

*RAC Foundation, 2012