It’s becoming an American tradition to pass down driving myths and tall car tales from generation to generation. You’ve probably been told you have to change your oil every 3,000 miles or that the color of your car can make it more expensive to insure. But are any of these true?
Today, we’re going to debunk the top ten driving myths you need to stop believing ASAP.
You need to change your oil every 3,000 miles
This myth came from a good place, because it used to be true. But, auto makers have improved their cars over the years. Many cars on the road today can go anywhere from 7,500 to 10,000 miles before needing an oil change, but be sure to check your owner’s manual. If you’re changing your oil less frequently, this could save you a pretty penny, even if you’re doing it yourself.
Red cars get pulled over more
While red cars are easier to see, this doesn’t mean that they get pulled over more often. If you’re speeding, you increase your chances of being pulled over no matter what color car you drive.
Neutral colored cars cost less to insure
This myth is just silly. Insurance companies typically don’t ask what color the vehicle is when you’re looking for a policy. What they do care about is your driving record. If you’ve been caught speeding around town in your red car, that’s what will make your rate go up. Just stick to the speed limit and your rate should be safe.
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Idling instead of turning the engine off and on saves gas
Somewhere along the line, someone started the myth that turning your car off and on again uses more gas than letting your car idle. With modern engines, it takes a minimal amount of gas to turn the engine back on, especially if it’s still warm. Idling, on the other hand, wastes half a mile of gas every minute. Save yourself some money and help out the environment and turn your car off if you’ll be stopping for longer than a red light.
It’s illegal to drive barefoot
Your mother probably told you this all the time, but it’s simply not true. Not a single state has a law saying you can’t drive barefoot. With that being said, we don’t recommend kicking off your shoes while driving. It can be harder to give the pedals enough pressure while barefoot. You could also cause an accident if one of your shoes gets caught under the pedal. You could be charged with reckless driving if that’s the case. So, just because it isn’t illegal doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
You can’t get a ticket for driving too slow
Although it’s rare to see, you can get a ticket for driving too slowly. Police officers could give you a ticket if they think you are a risk to other drivers on the road, and this includes driving at a snail’s pace. As long as you do your best to go the speed limit, you’ll be less likely to get a ticket.
Men are better drivers than women
We’re fairly certain this myth was started by an overconfident male driver. But, the insurance companies and all their research beg to differ. 80% of fatal crashes are caused by male drivers and they outnumber women 3 to 1 for DUI instances.
It’s illegal to drive with the interior lights on
Parents everywhere have probably yelled at kids in the backseat to turn the dome lights off because it’s illegal. But, like driving barefoot, not a single state has a law against this specifically. However, this light can be very distracting to a driver, and you can get pulled over for distracted driving.
You have to fill up your car with premium gas
This is another myth that used to be true back in the old days. Today, all fuel types that you can find at gas stations have detergent in them to keep your fuel lines clean. Premium gasoline also isn’t going to help your car run any better. Back in the day, lower quality gas used to make engines knock and ting, but that’s no longer the case. Unless your owner’s manual says otherwise, regular gas should be just fine for your car.
You can’t get pulled over unless you’re going over 10 mph over the speed limit
Once again, this is incredibly unlikely, but it can still happen. Even if you are going one mph over the speed limit, you could legally get a speeding ticket. Most likely, a police officer won’t pull you over for such a small offense, but it is possible. The best advice when driving is to always follow the speed limit.
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