15 Erroneous myths busted about driving

When it comes to driving, several misconceptions have persisted over time and ought to be put to rest as soon as possible.

This is similar to the situation in practically all issues and topics that can be addressed.

People who get behind the wheel of a car or motorcycle regularly are not helped in any way by urban legends, stories based on half-truths, or any other type of story that falls into this category.

That being said, here at Motorbli, we are going to debunk or expose 15 driving myths that aren’t true in the hopes that all users who devote some of their time to consulting our meager portal will be able to steer clear of the erroneous ideas that have been ingrained in their heads for some inexplicable reason and have more precise ideas when they are behind the wheel.

They are not to be believed: 15 misconceptions about driving are debunked here.

After the brief introduction that we always do to warm up, it is time to go to the main topic of this text and go through each of these 15 false myths about driving that drivers unnecessarily believe even though they are aware they are wrong.

Let’s find out what they are, shall we?

1. Saving fuel on slopes by shifting the vehicle into neutral is as simple as dropping the gear.

The first one that comes to mind is prevalent but does not correspond to how things are. Not a single drop of fuel is injected into the engine after the appropriate gear has been selected, and the accelerator pedal has not been depressed.

This is because the control unit does not consider the possibility that the engine will stall.

However, if no gear is selected, the wheels will become disengaged, and the engine will require a minimum amount of fuel to avoid stalling and, as a result, coming to an abrupt stop.

2. At pedestrian crossings, cyclists are given the right of way before pedestrians.

You probably already guessed that this is not the case.

When a pedestrian crossing is involved, a cyclist must dismount his bicycle and proceed across the intersection like a pedestrian.

This means that he must complete the crossing on foot.

The shoulder of the road, bike lanes, and intersections specifically designed to accommodate cyclists are places where people riding bicycles are prioritized.

Therefore, there are priority zones in the city for those who circulate with this mode of transportation, but not in pedestrian crossings, as many people are under the impression.

3. Driving on city streets is not as risky as it once was

There is a widespread belief that there is almost no risk involved in driving a car or motorcycle on urban roads because speed limits mark much lower peaks than on highways.

As a result, people believe that the likelihood of being involved in an accident is significantly lower in this setting. However, some data entirely contradict this idea, which may exist in many people’s minds.

It has been determined by the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) that approximately sixty percent of all traffic accidents occur at a slow speed in urban areas.

These statistics were derived from data collected by the DGT.

4. Keeping the windows down while driving uses less fuel than turning the air conditioning on.

On the other hand, this one can be interpreted as more of a subtle half-truth than the others.

When traveling at very low speeds, it is more efficient to have the windows rolled down, and the engine is running rather than turning the air conditioning on and off.

This can be understood because the vehicle presents a higher level of aerodynamic resistance on the roads when the windows are down, which translates into a higher level of consumption.

Having the windows down reduces the level of safety and comfort experienced while also increasing the amount of shared noise.

In light of all this, if you want to save money, you should probably turn on the air conditioning, but the temperature should not drop below 23 degrees.

5. When passing a cyclist, you should never go farther than the continuous line.

On a stretch of roadway, a vehicle can pass a cyclist even if the action is prohibited, so long as the car does so to maintain the lateral safety separation by occupying either the entire opposing lane or a portion of it.

It can only be done when there is no risk to traffic flow.

Therefore, it is best to wait for the appropriate moment in which neither a car nor a motorcycle approaches head-on from the opposite direction and then maneuver to leave the cyclist in turn behind.

6. How you grip the steering wheel in any situation makes no difference.

The truth is that how you hold the steering wheel when driving with one hand is essential, even though many people like to brag about how they do it when going with only one hand.

In either of these scenarios, it is in your best interest to assume either the 9-3 or 10-2 position concerning the position of the hands of the clock.

The left hand represents the nine-and-a-half o’clock position on that fictitious clock, while the right holds the two and three-o’clock positions.

It is also important to emphasize that you should never have the steering wheel with the palms of your hands, with one hand higher than the other, or let go of it entirely at any point.

7. You are unable to apply the brakes while in a curve.

As was the case with the fourth myth described earlier, this one also has its nuances. Braking can cause an imbalance in the car at certain times, such as when the driver is taking a fast corner or experiencing an understeer with a wheel spin that is lower than it should be.

There are times when this is not the case.

It is sufficient to drive a modern vehicle at a prudent speed to guarantee that the braking transmission will reach the ground and that the directionality will securely perform its function.

8. It is possible to pass another vehicle faster than the posted speed limit.

Because of this, things also depend on the mode of transportation used and the kind of road on which the maneuver is being performed.

Only drivers operating a passenger vehicle or a motorcycle on conventional highways and by particular conditions are permitted to go faster than the speed limit posted on the road.

There is a possibility that these will exceed the speed limit of 20 kilometers per hour.

The remaining users, even those who can travel concurrently in other modes of transportation, do not have the option of increasing their speed to the point where they can pass whoever is in front of them.

9. After you’ve had a few drinks, you can go for a ride on your bicycle.

It is common knowledge (or it should be common knowledge) that operating a motor vehicle after consuming alcoholic beverages is extremely risky and is considered a criminal offense.

However, some people are unaware that the same level of risk and prohibition applies when operating a bicycle.

And another thing to keep in mind is that this mode of transportation is not exempt from the alcohol controls carried out in urban and rural areas while drivers are on the road.

Because of this, a cyclist who fails a drug test and continues to pose a risk to pedestrians and other drivers on the road in urban areas is subject to a monetary penalty.

This is because the risk of an accident is not eliminated.

10. Vehicles with a more excellent center of gravity are less likely to roll over.

The experience that older drivers have had with older cars may be the root of this misconception, which has persisted for a long time.

This is one explanation for why it’s been around for so long.

These were distinguished by suspensions that were more pliable and less effective than others.

When traveling over a bump, heavier vehicles transmit less body movement to the driver and passengers than to lighter ones.

On the other hand, because of the technological and mechanical advancements that have been made in the automotive industry, a modern compact car can maintain the same poise as a large car.

11. If you get some sleep before getting behind the wheel, the effects of the alcohol will wear off.

There is no at-home remedy that delays the onset of the adverse effects of drinking alcohol recently, nor is there one that prevents a positive result on a breathalyzer test.

Neither of these things can be accomplished by using a home remedy.

Therefore, to protect yourself and those around you, you should avoid drinking alcohol while driving.

12. Giving way at the end of an acceleration lane

In this situation, what ends up happening is to yield in a lane designated for acceleration.

You will have to pull over and stop the vehicle at the start of this stretch because there won’t be enough distance for you to get up to the appropriate speed otherwise.

13. It is not healthy for the starter to turn off the engine when it is stopped to turn it back on.

As is the case with a number of the other myths that have already been discussed, it does have a grain of truth to it, which in this instance can be found in the older cars that did experience this phenomenon in their bodies.

A model of today will last for approximately 200,000 stars on average.

14. Tires that have had a slight air let out of them grip better.

Even though this statement is inaccurate, the fact that it is dangerous to ride with tires that have even a slight amount of deflation is why the manufacturer recommends a certain pressure.

15. It is permissible for you to drive on the left side of the road.

The final driving myth that will be discussed in this section is the possibility of driving in the left-hand lane of a road.

You can only do so when passing another vehicle; however, you are required to ride in the right-hand lane most of the time.

Therefore, you must get back into the right lane once the passing maneuver is complete.

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