The volume of info being presented on the modern dashboard/info system screen has now reached ridiculous proportions even in terms of just the warning lights - EPS, ABS, and so on ad infinitum - In my opinion it has now reached the stage where the average driver has very little idea what most of them mean and how they should react/take action if one lights up. For instance a common misconception I run into frequently is that if the wee oil can symbol lights up it means you need to top up the oil!
I like being able to see all these lights and, with my past experience of motor vehicle repair, I probably know what more than half of them mean! but for your average Joe Bloggs I think probably two large highly visible lights - so you couldn't miss them if they illuminate - one in red and one in yellow/orange. The red one would light if something had happened which could cause immediate serious damage and cause immediate breakdown (total loss of oil pressure. boiling/low level of coolant. that sort of thing) The orange would illuminate for anything else for which it would be safe to drive a short distance to reach safe refuge. All you would know at that time is what action to take immediately then, when safe to do so, you could perhaps press another button which would bring up a diagnostic text on a screen such as "Coolant boiling/low coolant, or perhaps, No/low oil pressure, or whatever the recorded problem is. If you were totally lacking in technical knowledge you might just choose to call your breakdown provider at that point. A more enlightened person might see if the coolant could be topped up, or whatever. As things are just now you'd be very lucky to be attracted to any of these displays especially whilst negotiating a busy "Smart" (not so smart in my opinion) motorway.
The Jaguar XJ-S had two very large warning lights across the top of the instrument display, one red, the other yellow, which flashed to attract attention to any actual warning light. They were often a real pain due to 1970s unreliability, but nowadyas that should be less of a problem.
We are heading towards Jock's wish with some cars. When some warning lights illluminate, messages pop up, beeps sound. Sadly, the messages are written by engineers, so the average driver will not understand. We need two simple messages. Red - Stop now, Amber - Visit your garage as soon as possible, at least within 12 hours.
Warning lights are aleady coded, with green being information, yellow as something to be awware of and take action soon, and red as do something now. Sadly, that is often not clear from handbooks, and few instructors explain it to new drivers.
Front foglight is green, as can be on anytime.
Rear foglight is yellow as legal rules apply.
Sadly many drivers struggle to grasp the difference between pressure and quantity, so as Jock says, top up the oil when the oil can light tells them to. Think how many times you've seen someone put fuel in, then return from the kiosk with a litre of oil and just pour it in, never touching the dipstick. Must be oil light prompted I think.
This is perhaps why so many cars are losing the dipstick and going electronic oil level check every startup.
