Driving myths: are any true?

We will all likely have heard ‘myths’ both as children and as adults. Crusts will make your hair curly, carrots help you to see in the dark, swallowing chewing gum will stay in your system for seven years, and so on.

Many of the myths we hear are entirely fake, whilst some will have some degree of truth (however small). The same goes for the myths we hear as motorists, that again we may have heard when we were children or when we became drivers ourselves. But which myths hold some truth and which are entirely false? We take a look at some of the most common examples below:

Large objects hanging from your rear-view mirror will fail your MOT

In short, yes, they can. Typically represented as fluffy dice, these objects hanging from your rear-view mirror can lead to a failed MOT. Any obstruction of your windscreen of 4cm or more will mean that you are unable to see clearly whilst driving, a clear point of failure for any mechanic carrying out an MOT.

Driving with flip flops on is illegal

According to the Highway Code (Rule 97), drivers must wear shoes and clothing that don’t prevent them from using the vehicle’s controls in the appropriate manner. Whilst not mentioned specifically within the Highway Code, as flips flops can easily fall from your feet and potentially become stuck under the pedals, they are clearly not the correct choice of footwear when driving and therefore shouldn’t be worn whilst driving.

Eating and driving is illegal

Whilst there is no law that specifically states you cannot eat or drink whilst driving your vehicle, the act of doing so can inhibit your attention and your responsiveness. You could be prosecuted for careless driving if eating or drinking whilst driving, impacts upon your control of the vehicle. Ultimately this could lead you to a £5,000 fine, 3 to 9 points on your license, or even a discretionary driving disqualification. As a result of this it is highly recommended that you opt to pull over in a safe and responsible location to eat during your journey.

Fully comprehensive insurance covers you to drive any car

This is a very common misconception and one that could land you in hot water should you drive someone else’s car and have an accident. Coverage for driving any and all cars is not always included in a fully comp insurance deal. Particulars in insurance agreements are entirely up to the discretion of the provider, therefore you should check your policy carefully before assuming you are insured to drive another person’s vehicle.

For more hints and tips on all things driving, take a look over our countless motoring articles.