Kwik-Fit expresses concern that almost a third of car-owning students would rather blow their budget on a night out than fix a tire.
Admittedly, finances are often tight while studying, but the fast fit giant points out it’s not just necessities such as books, rent and food that are taking priority over car maintenance. Kwik-Fit reveals the shameful statistic that 32% of car owning students confessed that they’d choose to blow their last £50 on a big night out rather than replace an illegal tire – even if it meant driving home on it the next day.
According to Kwik-Fit, there are some 300,000 car owning students in the U.K., and around one in five of these have driven an unroadworthy car in order to save money. This figure jumps to 37% amongst the male car-owning student population. Other student statistics worthy of an "F" are that 14% of car-owning students have knowingly driven on worn out tires, 7% without a valid MoT certificate, 5% sans road tax and 3% without insurance.
“It is only natural that students want to spend what little remainder they have of their student loans on leisure pursuits, but this mustn’t be at the cost of road safety,” commented Kwik-Fit customer services director David White.
While over three quarters of car owning students say that the financial responsibility for maintaining their vehicle lies with themselves, the remaining 24% rely on their parents. Concerned parents, Kwik-Fit points out, can buy their offspring vouchers for car maintenance or even pre-book and pay for a service and MoT, and purchase tires through the company’s Web site. Furthermore, any students who are unsure about the safety of their car can receive a free check at their local Kwik-Fit centre. (Tyres & Accessories)
