Busting the Biggest Driving Myths in the UK

Every country has its own myths that supposedly tell you what you can and cannot do whilst you are behind the wheel. In fact, a lot of them can be cleared up with a simple glance at The Highway Code. With this said, many of the myths have be passed down through generations ever since the very first car hit the roads. Here at V12 Sports and Classics we like to promote safe and lawful driving which is why we are going to separate fact from fiction once and for all…

The Interior Light

For many years there has been speculation around whether or not it is against the law the drive with the interior light switched on. Although many people believe the former, having your interior light switched on is perfectly legal. Of course, it can cause you to become distracted and may even lower your awareness of your surroundings, so it may be best to have it switched off anyway.

Smoking

There is some truth to the element of smoking in a vehicle as a new legislation introduced in October 2015 stated that it is illegal to smoke in a vehicle that is carrying passengers under the age of 18. With this said, it is not a criminal offence to smoke when you are with people above 18 or on your own, however you do have to consider whether the activity is going to distract you from the road or not.

Mobile Phone

Not only is using a mobile phone whilst driving considered a criminal offence, the punishments for it have become increasingly stricter and currently drivers can get fined between £200 and £2,500 for it as well as receiving 6 points on their licence. One of the biggest myths regarding this activity however is the idea that it is perfectly legal to use a mobile phone when the vehicle is stationary. In fact, very few drivers are aware that using a mobile phone whilst the engine is running can still incur a fine.

Following the law is important when driving in order to keep yourself, passengers, pedestrians and fellow road users safe. After all, distractions are not only dangerous, they can be deadly. It is important to remember that the rules of the road remain the same regardless of whether your vehicle is new or second-hand. If you’re browsing the market for used cars, get in contact with a member of the V12 Sports and Classics team today!