Celebs Brits want with them if car breaks down from Lewis Hamilton to The Rock

06 March 2024 , 10:34

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Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, and Bear Grylls have topped a list of celebrities – that drivers would most want to have in the car with them in case of a vehicle breakdown, a study has found.

Former British racing drivers Damon Hill and Jackie Stewart also made the top 10 list – alongside action movie stars including Jason Statham, Tom Cruise, and Daniel Craig.

And it comes as a poll of 2,000 motorists found that as many as 43% are clueless when it comes to knowing how to change a tyre – with half admitting they would be “too scared” to jack up their car and have a go.

One in 10 (11%) say they would not be confident in locating their spare tyre – and the same number don't even know whether their vehicle came with a spare, or a repair kit, when they bought it.

Other areas in which drivers lack motoring knowledge include how to check their indicator bulbs (56%), how to check their brake fluid levels (41%) – and when their next MOT is due (11%).

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In light of the findings, a quiz has been created to test how well you would cope when faced with having to change a tyre on your car.

The series of questions requires respondents to select the correct answer, or answers, at each stage, only submitting them when you’re confident you’ve got it right – with the correct method revealed at the end.

Fuzz Townshend, the mechanic on National Geographic’s Car S.O.S, which commissioned the research to launch the twelfth season of the car renovation show, said: “The research has shown varying levels of confidence when it comes to everyday motoring upkeep.

“The plus side of increased quality of tyres, and more stringent safety measures, is that they don’t tend to fail anything like as often as they did in decades gone by.

“But a consequence of that is people being less confident, and less knowledgeable, about changing their tyres, and other potentially lifesaving bits of car DIY.”

The study, carried out via OnePoll.com, also found that in the event of a flat, over half of drivers (55%) would be likely to ring a roadside assistance programme – while just 25% would have a go at changing it themselves.

Of those who don't fancy tackling it alone, 54% claim the main reason for this is a lack of knowledge when it comes to the steps to do it correctly.

The same percentage worry they wouldn’t have the physical strength to get the job done, and 40% fear they’d be able to get the old wheel off – but not the new one back on.

Meanwhile, 36% say they would not know how to use an inflation kit – and 46% admitted they simply always rely on other people to get them out of similar binds.

As a result, 56% would like to know more about basic car maintenance – although they don’t care enough to actually go ahead and learn it.

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Tim Shaw, presenter of Car S.O.S, which returns to National Geographic this Thursday, March 7, at 8.00pm, said: “Your car is more than just a mode of transportation – it's an investment in your safety and convenience.

“Regular maintenance ensures it stays reliable and efficient, keeping you on the road with peace of mind. Keeping Lewis Hamilton handy to change a tyre probably wouldn’t hurt, either – although he usually has a team of experts to do his in a matter of seconds.”

TOP 10 CELEBRITIES THAT MOTORISTS MOST WANT IN THE CAR WITH THEM DURING A BREAKDOWN: