Businesses and individuals alike must be wary of the dangers of potential defects and this means operating a strict and regular programme of maintenance for all vehicles.

Road safety charity Brake has issued a plea to all road users to address concerns over vehicle defects, after figures from the Department for Transport showed that more than 2,000 accidents take place every year as a result of poor maintenance and vehicles not being fit to take to the nation's roads.

Furthermore, research published by Brake has shown a significant proportion of vehicle operators lack even a basic understanding of how to carry out essential checks on the roadworthiness of their vehicles.

According to a poll of UK road users carried out by Brake and insurer Direct Line, almost half (45 per cent) of UK vehicle operators admitted to taking to the roads with a vehicle they knew had a serious defect in the last 12 months.

Meanwhile, more than one-quarter (27 per cent) of respondents stated they were unsure how to carry out basic vehicle maintenance including checks on the roadworthiness of tyres and braking systems – poor confidence was especially shown among female and young drivers.

At the same time, just one in three (37 per cent) drivers understood the importance of tread depth being at least 3 mm in winter to promote better handling, grip and braking, while just one in seven (15 per cent) could correctly identify how to change oil and top up engine fluids like anti-freeze and water.

Brake deputy chief executive Julie Townsend stated: "Taking a vehicle on the road without being sure it is roadworthy is asking for trouble, exposing yourself and others to unnecessary danger and potentially costing you more in the long run.

"It is shocking to see so many drivers both ignorant and wilfully negligent when it comes to basic and essential vehicle maintenance checks. It's especially worrying at this time of year, when drivers need to make sure they and their vehicle are prepared in case bad weather hits."

She added that in the event that individuals come across an issue when carrying out checks on their vehicle, it is important they do not put off getting it fixed, as driving with a serious defect can be a risky action to take.

Ms Townsend concluded: "You don't need to be an expert to carry out basic vehicle checks and it needn't take long."

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This story was posted by Daniel Crosby, Assistant Marketing Executive at the Fuel Card Group.