Don't expect help when changing a flat tyre

London - While drivers may claim they would help a fellow driver to change a flat tyre, few actually do. A survey carried out on behalf of Continental Tyres UK showed that far fewer drivers will offer assistance than those who said they would, when asked.

The survey involved a woman motorist appearing to be having difficulties changing a tyre, while researchers counted the number of cars that passed and the number who stopped to offer assistance.

The woman was helped quickly in the city of Newcastle. A driver stopped within 10 minutes, and overall 15 percent of male drivers stopped to offer help.

In the city of Bristol, however, not one driver stopped, while researchers counted 726 drivers who drove past.

The survey contrasted with a previous survey asking of drivers would, theoretically stop to help, when 55 percent of men said they would probably stop to help.