Transport Reporter DAN RUTSTEIN put a group of York road users through their paces and found their knowledge a little lacking...

DON'T know your humps from your roundabouts, or your no overtaking from your wild horse. Then join the club.

More than half of motorists cannot identify road signs correctly, according to an RAC survey, and a visit to the streets of York proved it.

More than two in three drivers admitted to never having looked at the Highway Code since taking their driving test and the lack of knowledge by local road users is clear.

The Evening Press survey of a range of drivers aged from 21 to 50, showed that cow dung and flooding are expected by drivers, who have actually seen signs for chippings and open quaysides.

Drinkers can only hope that Spread Eagle assistant manager Dave Welsh, 31, knows his wines better than his signs.

Although his only crash was unrelated to road signs, a scrape with a house, his lack of knowledge was worrying to say the least.

"I haven't looked at the Highway Code for 14 years," he stated proudly.

"And I don't recall ever really studying it that hard."

Others were a little more confident. "I feel I am a good driver and know the roads well," said 26-year-old Chris Gomersall, whose one accident in nine years was caused when a motorist ignoring a no U-turn side hit the side of his vehicle.

"I know all the signs and could pass my theory test tomorrow if I had to take it."

His knowledge beat that of young Lena Kanabar, 21, who is yet to hit the roads yet, and should consider a thorough read of the motorists' Bible before she does.

Her incorrect interpretation of three five signs on show, clearly demonstrates that York mirrors the rest of the nation.

We also quizzed Jim Race, aged 50, and Ben Patchesa, a 26-year old teacher.

Across the country three in five motorists thought a beware of cattle warning sign indicated an area infected with foot-and-mouth disease. The RAC survey of 500 motorists, which was conducted to mark the 70th anniversary of the publication of the Highway Code, also showed:

- Only ten per cent of motorists understood the sign that shows a dual carriageway has ended

- The warning sign for areas with side winds was identified by five per cent of motorists as "kite flying area ahead"

- Some 20 per cent incorrectly thought the sign ordering drivers to give way to vehicles from the opposite direction meant "one-way street ahead"

- 68 per cent said they had never even glanced at the Highway Code since passing their tests which, in some cases, they had taken 40 years previously.

"The Highway Code is as much an essential road safety document for road users now as when it was published 70 years ago," said Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation.

"Our survey would suggest that despite the Highway Code remaining one of the best-selling books, many motorists are unaware of the meaning of road traffic signs. The majority of motorists do not understand common warning signs. They clearly need to brush up their Highway Code knowledge."

Other misinterpretations confused a migratory toad crossing with a sign for a French restaurant, some thought a warning of wild fowl meant puddles in the road, and others thought a sign warning of low flying helicopters stood for trips around the bay.

Updated: 11:12 Saturday, April 21, 2001