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According to a recent press release from Green Flag, 81 per cent of women drivers admitted during a roadside survey that they would be unable to ‘change a tyre’. I don’t suppose I could, either; but I do know how to change a wheel.

The same press release goes on to claim that most women wouldn’t recognise a dipstick from Jonathan Ross. In fact, it seems that half of all the women surveyed confessed that they would not open the bonnet under any circumstances – not even to put in the petrol.

According to Frances Browning, a Green Flag spokeswoman, “….knowledge is power and can help prevent car breakdown situations.” My sister teaches at a grammar school and has all sorts of knowledge crammed into her head, but her car still keeps breaking down. Either Ms Browning is wrong or Mercs are crap.

The release goes on to reveal in emotive language that women drivers feel ‘tense and frightened’ during a ‘breakdown experience’. I should think they get quite hungry, too, if they have to wait aslong as I did for a Green Flag mechanic to turn up.

The research report concludes that motoring knowledge comes with age for both men and women. Fewer than one in ten motorists below the age of 25 are able to fix minor problems by the roadside, compared to 15 per cent of motorists aged over 55.

So, rude girl, next time you break down don’t try and fix it yourself - ring your granny, innit.