Do car dashboard symbols confuse you? You're not alone.

Nearly a third of U.S. drivers are unsure they can identify warning lights on their car dashboards, and about a fourth of them would keep driving after a light came on in hopes the problem would go away, according to a recent survey commissioned by a car seat maker.

The study asked 2,000 motorists to identify a number of dashboard warning symbols. It found fewer than 40% of drivers felt "quite confident" in their ability to tell what warning lights meant.

About half of the drivers said they found car dashboard symbols confusing, and another 20% were unsure whether the symbols were clear.

Car dashboards have become more complex as they give drivers more information. The survey findings suggest, however, that driver dashboard literacy has not kept up with advances in automotive technology, says Diono, the company that commissioned the study.

A few examples are shown here.

How confident are drivers in identifying warning lights?

How drivers tried – and failed – to identify these dash lights

Drivers were questioned to determine how well they recognize and react to warning lights, said Journo Research, which conducted the study. Identification choices included "some curveballs, to see just how wrong people might be," the company said.

Uncertainty about warning lights could cause accidents, Diono said. It also could lead to more vehicles being damaged if motorists ignore maintenance alerts and choose to keep driving.

Why would drivers keep driving if a warning light came on?

If a warning light comes on, "Don't ignore it," Diono CEO Tim Maule said in a statement. If you don't know what it means, "refer to your car manual or take a picture and check it with Google or ChatGPT."

Source: USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Journo Research