Whereas many Brits think about themselves assured drivers, that doesn’t imply they aren’t responsible of believing and following just a few false guidelines on the highway.
Over the previous three months, searches for ‘is driving barefoot unlawful’ and ‘can you employ water as an alternative of coolant’ have elevated by 50% and 49%, respectively.
However driving myths aren’t simply easy misunderstandings, they will in some circumstances be unsafe and incur potential fines.
So, to assist motorists separate reality from fiction, the automotive specialists at Vertu have analysed search knowledge to disclose and debunk 4 of the most typical driving myths.
Each month, over 5,000 Brits search to see whether or not driving barefoot is against the law. The excellent news for these with a penchant for driving with out footwear is that it isn’t unlawful. However that doesn’t essentially imply it’s protected to do, both.
Sporting wise footwear is far safer than driving barefoot. Put on flat, thin-soled footwear that allow you to really feel the pedals extra simply. And ensure your footwear can not slip off your ft simply, in order that they don’t turn into a distraction when driving.
Additionally, all the time keep away from carrying excessive heels, flip-flops, or heavy boots when driving as they make it a lot tougher to regulate your automotive.
Delusion: You need to use water as an alternative of coolant
When your automotive is overheating, it may be tempting to make use of water as an alternative of correct coolant. Nonetheless, water lacks anti-corrosive components which can trigger rust in your engine, resulting in leaks and injury.
Nonetheless, in an emergency the place water is your solely possibility, use distilled water. In contrast to faucet water, which incorporates minerals that may hurt your engine, distilled water has no impurities. As soon as the emergency is over, flush out all of the water and refill it with coolant. If you’re apprehensive concerning the situation of your automotive after utilizing water as a coolant, then you need to get a summer season verify.
To ensure you don’t get caught out or have to make use of distilled water, hold some engine coolant within the boot of your automotive for emergencies.
Delusion: You possibly can’t eat and drive
Legally talking, there’s nothing stopping you from consuming and driving. Nonetheless, in case your snacking turns into a distraction, it might be thought of careless driving. If you’re discovered to be driving carelessly, you may be dealt a hefty £100 on-the-spot high-quality and three factors in your licence.
In case you do get the urge to snack, keep away from messy meals that would steal your consideration from the highway. If that’s al you’ve gotten, then it’s in all probability finest to drag over and eat whereas parked.
Delusion: You possibly can drive with a cracked windscreen
Whereas there isn’t a selected regulation on cracked windscreens, it’s a motoring offence if the crack obstructs your view. If caught, you may face a £100 high-quality and obtain three factors in your driver’s licence.
In response to MOT guidelines, your windscreen should not have any greater than 40mm of injury wherever. Even a 10mm crack straight within the driver’s line of imaginative and prescient may end up in MOT failure.
In case you’re driving with a cracked windscreen and get into an accident, you may face extra extreme driving prices. The accident might be thought of your accountability as you had impaired visibility.
There you’ve gotten it, the 4 most searched-for driving myths debunked.