The driving habits we think are illegal but are actually myths

From wearing flip flops to honking your horn, which are driving myths and which are actually illegal?!

There’s nothing quite like the freedom of passing your driving test, getting your first car and feeling like you know everything and can go everywhere.  

But some driving myths have stuck with us from even before we took our first lesson, despite what any teacher might say. Like keeping the interior light on while driving – we all still avoid doing it for fear of being pulled over.

Others we all do without second-guessing the fact it could be illegal, like letting your dog have a wee on the motorway!

How many others are there that we’re still too scared to do or should definitely stop doing now?!

A recent survey asked 2,000 UK drivers what they thought was actually the truth or a myth, and it turns out the vast majority of us don’t know legal fact from fiction when it comes to the Highway Code. 

Firstly let’s kick off with leaving the interior light on while driving. While your mum and dad probably shouted at you for turning it on when you lost your football stickers down the side of the seat, it’s not actually even mentioned in the Highway Code. 

46% of people surveyed thought it was though, so you’re not alone if you thought it too! 

Next, footwear. 

Most people – 75% – think it is illegal to drive in flip flops and while it definitely isn’t advised – and could leave you with a hefty fine and nine points on your license – it isn’t actually illegal in itself. 

As long as you can control your car in the correct manner, it’s not illegal. 

The same goes for driving barefoot or in heels. 

But if you have a crash, or you are stopped for driving without due care and attention – also called careless driving – you could be lumped with a £100 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points on your license if your footwear is deemed the problem.

There are a lot of other things we all do every day that are actually illegal. Like flashing your lights to give someone way, pulling over to check your phone or map and keeping your engine running or letting your dog out for a wee on the hard shoulder (even if you’re broken down!).

You’re also not allowed to sleep in your car while drunk, move into a bus lane to let an ambulance through or pay on your phone on Apple Pay at a drive-thru.

It’s bad news for those with road rage too, it’s actually illegal to beep your horn at someone angrily.

Despite all that though, the survey showed 95% of us flash our lights to let people through and 79% beep their horn due to anger.

Phil Morgan, head of findandfundmycar.com, which commissioned the survey, said: “Nobody wants to have to pay a hefty fine for something that they didn’t know was going to cost them, so it’s best to know these sooner rather than later.”