Fifty per cent of drivers cannot read a map

Part of the blame has been placed on drivers' increasing reliance on satellite navigation systems as they dump the trusty road atlas.

Research shows that almost 50 per cent of Britain's drivers - an astonishing 15 million - are unable to identify simple map symbols and that about 11million admit they "cannot read a basic road map".

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As a result, just one in 100 drivers would be proficient enough to pass the Cub Scout map-reading badge, which is aimed at children aged from six upwards and gained by undertaking a series of navigation exercises with the aid of an Ordnance Survey map.

The deterioration in traditional map-reading skills coincides with an increased reliance on satnavs - despite evidence of the gadgets directing drivers down routes which are impossible to follow or even into swollen fords.

The lack of basic knowledge has alarmed road safety experts and map-makers, who say electronic equipment is not infallible.

Research commissioned by insurer Esure found that 63 per cent of motorists - equivalent to 21million - would be lost without a satnav system.

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This is despite the fact that 50 per cent say they are driven round the bend by poor instructions at least once a month.

Sixty-three per cent of the 1,000 drivers aged 18 to 65 who took part in the survey say their traditional map is out of date, and 16 per cent no longer keep one in the car.

Men claimed to be better than women at reading maps. This was borne out by the statistics with 68 per cent of men correctly deciphering four-figure grid references compared with 62 per cent of women.

But women scored higher on map symbols.

Ninety-three per cent risk getting stuck in mud because they don't understand the symbol, and 83 per cent failed to recognise even a motorway on a map key.

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Fifty-five per cent would not be able to locate a public convenience, 31 per cent would fail to pinpoint a picnic site and 54 per cent could not pick out a railway station.

Thirty-five per cent were unable to read a four-figure grid reference.

Drivers in Scotland were worst at understanding maps, with 56 per cent failing to identify five or more symbols compared to 34 per cent of motorists from the South-East.

Colin Batabyal, of Esure, said: "It's pretty embarrassing that the majority of Cub Scouts have better mapreading skills than the majority of the adult population.

"This could lead to dangerous scenarios where people are relying solely on technology which can break down."