Motorists who perform 'friendly gesture' could end up landing £1k fine

Daily Record

2 days ago

A survey has revealed that more than half of motorists in the UK are breaking the highway code due to common driving myths - and this could be leading to fines of up to £1,000
Over half of UK motorists are unwittingly contravening the Highway Code, believing in widespread driving myths, according to new research. A study by LKQ Euro Car Parts quizzed British drivers on their understanding of road regulations to uncover the most prevalent misconceptions and the potential repercussions of such beliefs.
With a staggering 58% of drivers flouting the Highway Code due to these fallacies, potentially facing fines up to £1,000, specialists at LKQ Euro Car Parts have pinpointed the top five blunders and debunked each one. Take a look below at the myths to make sure you don't end up landing any driving fines.
Myth 1: You should flash your lights as a friendly gesture (60%)
A significant number of motorists, 45%, confess to occasionally using their full-beam headlights as a cordial signal, with some even sharing their actions on social platforms. Often it's used to permit another driver to merge from a junction or as an expression of gratitude.
Yet, this seemingly benign act contravenes the Highway Code and could lead to a fine of as much as £1,000. Alarmingly, 60% of drivers are oblivious to the fact that this practice is prohibited.
The Highway Code's Rule 110 clearly instructs: "Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users. Never assume that flashing headlights is a signal inviting you to proceed."
Myth 2: Driving with the interior light on is illegal (38%)
A common belief instilled from a young age is that it's illegal to drive with the interior light on, with 38% of drivers thinking this. Despite this widespread belief, there are no rules against driving with your vehicle's interior lights on.
However, it can be distracting, so it should only be used when absolutely necessary and for brief periods.
Myth 3: You can beep your horn to express frustration (52%)
More than half of UK drivers (52%) believe it's harmless to honk their car horn at other road users out of frustration, with over a third (36%) admitting they have done so in the past.
However, while you can use your horn to signal danger to yourself or other road users, you're breaking the highway code if you honk simply out of annoyance and could receive a Fixed Penalty Notice of £30.
According to rule 112 of the highway code: "Use your horn only while your vehicle is moving, and you need to warn other road users of your presence. Never sound your horn aggressively. You must not use your horn while stationary on a road - "except" when another road user poses a danger."
Myth 4: It is illegal to drive in certain footwear or barefoot (43%)
The type of footwear you wear while driving can impact your ability to drive safely, but there are no strict rules or laws about what you can wear on your feet, including flip flops, high heels and even going barefoot.
Many motorists mistakenly believe it's illegal to drive in flipflops (41%), barefoot (43%) or in high heels (29%). However, you can be stopped for unsafe driving, so always ensure you can competently operate your vehicle in whatever footwear you choose.
Myth 5: Air-con is more fuel efficient than rolling down the windows (68%)
Over two thirds of drivers (68%) believe that air-con uses less petrol than driving with the windows down, thus making it the most economical choice.
However, this isn't accurate. When driving at slower speeds, having the windows open is the more fuel-efficient option as it creates minimal drag compared to the constant energy consumption caused by AC.