Whereas many Brits contemplate themselves assured drivers, that doesn’t imply they aren’t responsible of believing and following a couple of false guidelines on the street.
Over the previous three months, searches for ‘is driving barefoot unlawful’ and ‘can you employ water as a substitute of coolant’ have elevated by 50% and 49%, respectively.
However driving myths aren’t simply easy misunderstandings, they’ll in some circumstances be unsafe and incur potential fines.
So, to assist motorists separate truth from fiction, the automotive consultants at Vertu have analysed search knowledge to disclose and debunk 4 of the commonest driving myths.
Each month, over 5,000 Brits search to see whether or not driving barefoot is illegitimate. The excellent news for these with a penchant for driving with out sneakers is that it isn’t unlawful. However that doesn’t essentially imply it’s protected to do, both.
Sporting smart footwear is far safer than driving barefoot. Put on flat, thin-soled sneakers that allow you to really feel the pedals extra simply. And ensure your sneakers can not slip off your ft simply, in order that they don’t grow to be 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 more durable to regulate your automotive.
Fable: You need to use water as a substitute of coolant
When your automotive is overheating, it may be tempting to make use of water as a substitute of correct coolant. Nevertheless, water lacks anti-corrosive substances which can trigger rust in your engine, resulting in leaks and injury.
Nevertheless, 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 nervous concerning the situation of your automotive after utilizing water as a coolant, then it’s best to get a summer season examine.
To ensure you don’t get caught out or have to make use of distilled water, preserve some engine coolant within the boot of your automotive for emergencies.
Fable: You possibly can’t eat and drive
Legally talking, there’s nothing stopping you from consuming and driving. Nevertheless, in case your snacking turns into a distraction, it might be thought-about careless driving. If you’re discovered to be driving carelessly, you may be dealt a hefty £100 on-the-spot superb and three factors in your licence.
Should you do get the urge to snack, keep away from messy meals that would steal your consideration from the street. If that’s al you might have, then it’s most likely finest to tug over and eat whereas parked.
Fable: 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 superb and obtain three factors in your driver’s licence.
In response to MOT guidelines, your windscreen shouldn’t have any greater than 40mm of injury anyplace. Even a 10mm crack immediately within the driver’s line of imaginative and prescient may end up in MOT failure.
Should you’re driving with a cracked windscreen and get into an accident, you would possibly face extra extreme driving prices. The accident might be thought-about your accountability as you had impaired visibility.
There you might have it, the 4 most searched-for driving myths debunked.
