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North Wales Live
3 days ago
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
UK drivers risk £1,000 fines for common 'friendly gesture' on the road
Recent research has shown that over half of UK drivers are breaking the highway code due to prevalent driving myths. A study by LKQ Euro Car Parts set out to reveal the most frequent misconceptions among UK motorists concerning road laws and the consequences of adhering to these incorrect beliefs. The research found that a staggering 58% of drivers are flouting the highway code because of these myths, potentially incurring fines of as much as £1,000. The experts at LKQ Euro Car Parts are drawing attention to the top five missteps and the truths that debunk them. Check out these top five myths to ensure you're not unintentionally violating the rules – as failing to adhere could result in a surprise fine for inadvertently breaching the highway code. Myth 1: Flashing your lights as a friendly gesture is acceptable (60%) Approximately 45% of drivers admit to flashing their full-beams occasionally as a courteous gesture, and some even speak about this practice on social media platforms. Drivers commonly do this to let another driver merge from a junction or as thanks. Nonetheless, this seemingly harmless action is, in fact, against the law according to the highway code and could attract a fine of up to £1,000 if caught. Alarmingly, 60% of motorists do not recognise that this act is illegal. Highway Code Rule 110 clarifies: "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: It's illegal to drive with the interior light on (38%) A common misconception among many is that driving with the interior light on is against the law, a belief held by 38% of drivers. However, there is no legislation prohibiting the use of interior lights while driving. Nevertheless, it can be distracting and should be used only when necessary and for short periods. Myth 3: You can beep your horn to express frustration (52%) A significant proportion of UK drivers, 52%, think it's acceptable to honk their car horn at other road users out of frustration, with 36% admitting to having done so in the past. While horns can be used to alert others to danger, using them out of annoyance is a breach of the Highway Code and may result in a £30 Fixed Penalty Notice. 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 worn while driving can affect your ability to drive safely, but there are no strict rules or laws governing what can be worn on the feet, including flip-flops, high heels, or even driving barefoot. A substantial proportion of drivers erroneously think it's unlawful to drive in flipflops (41%), barefoot (43%) or in high heels (29%). However, you can be pulled over for unsafe driving, so always ensure you can operate the vehicle competently in whatever footwear you opt for. Myth 5: Using air-con is always more efficient (68%) More than two thirds of drivers (68%) believe that using air-con consumes less fuel than driving with the windows down, thus making it the most economical choice.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Motorists who perform 'friendly gesture' could end up landing £1k fine
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.
