These Are The Most Common Driving Myths Uncovered - The Taxi Centre
We look at some of the most common driving myths around and provide some clarity, to keep you and your business well-informed.
There are many myths about what you shouldn’t do while driving, often mistaken as official driving law.
Though some things are not always illegal, it’s important to be aware of how they could impact your driving and the safety of other road users.
Chances are, you’ll have heard many of these before. Though what actually are the rules, if any?
Read on for the most common driving myths uncovered.
1. Eating while driving
A common myth which people often assume is part of the law. This is because people have previously been fined by the police for eating while driving, though is it illegal?
Although there is no official law which prohibits the act of eating while driving, it could land you with a fine if a police officer finds you are distracted by eating while on the move.
Bearing this in mind, it’s safer to avoid eating while driving even though it can be tempting when you’re on the go with a busy schedule.
A study completed by Leeds University actually found that those who eat while driving are likely to have up to 44% slower reaction times than normal, showing that there is a clear risk. So remember to pull over before enjoying that snack.
As a taxi driver, you should also think about how this makes your business look. You would never eat while driving with passengers in your vehicle as this would make them think you’re paying less attention to the road, making them feel less safe in your vehicle as a result.
2. Drinking while driving
Here, we’re not referring to alcohol which is obviously prohibited by law while operating a vehicle in the UK.
Instead, we’re talking about non-alcoholic drinks such as tea, coffee, or fizzy drinks which you may have in your vehicle for when you’re on-the-go.
As with eating while driving, there is no specific law which prohibits you from taking a sip of a drink, though again there is a chance it could cause you to become distracted and slow down your reaction times.
The study mentioned previously showed that those who sip a drink while driving are 22% slower with their reaction times, and 18% more likely to keep a less steady lane position.
3. Smoking while driving
When it comes to smoking while driving, there are admittedly a few grey areas.
While it’s not completely illegal to smoke a cigarette when driving, you will be penalised for it if it causes you to present a danger to other road users.
It’s also important to note that if you are carrying under 18s in your vehicle, then it is illegal to smoke – a law which has been in place since October 2015.
This means that you cannot smoke a cigarette with children in the car. In general, considering the risk to yours and other road users’ safety, it’s best to avoid smoking a cigarette while driving.
Again, thinking about your business image, you would not want to do this in front of a passenger since it might make their journey less pleasant, and they could have a health issue you may not be aware of.
4. Having your interior light on while driving
This one you will have surely heard before, especially when turning on the roof-mounted light inside your vehicle.
Having a light on in your car while driving is not illegal, however you could get into trouble with the law if a police officer pulls you over and deems it a distraction to your driving.
Thinking about efficiency, having your interior light on while driving will also drain your battery – especially if not turned off. So it’s a good idea to only turn this on when you are parked up and waiting to drop off a passenger for instance, so they can see better when preparing to pay you.
5. Having an open container of alcohol in your car while driving
We know it’s illegal to physically drink alcohol while driving, though is it illegal to have an open container of alcohol sitting in your car?
In the US it is, though not in the UK. It’s not illegal for other passengers you are transporting to have an open container of alcohol in a car, though most taxi operators will prohibit drinking alcohol while in a taxi.
The main drink-driving law you need to be aware of is driving under the influence of alcohol, which is strictly forbidden by UK Government legislation.
6. Driving with headphones on
It’s not illegal to drive with headphones on, though it makes sense avoid it.
This is because having headphones on – especially noise-cancelling ones – makes it more difficult for you to hear the sounds of the road, including emergency service sirens.
A police officer could also pull you over for this should they find it is causing a clear distraction to your driving or presenting significant risk to other road users.
7. Making calls on a hands-free system while driving
Using a hand-held mobile device is strictly illegal and punishable by up to six points on your license and a £200 fine. The hands-free system offers a much safer way to help you answer calls if necessary while driving.
Using a hands-free device to make a call while you’re on the road is not illegal, though if you touch your phone at any point to do so then it will become illegal. It can also reduce your concentration so it is not strongly recommended if you can avoid it.
8. Using a sat nav while driving
Using a sat nav while driving is also legal, and it’s a common part of your job as a taxi driver when picking up or dropping off customers to lesser-known destinations.
Though it’s important to make sure it is positioned in the right place if using a map on your phone. If you use a sat nav app on your phone, then it should be positioned in a holder ideally on your dashboard so it doesn’t obstruct your view.
You will also be penalised if it turns out that you are not using your phone for navigational purposes while driving.
9. If a speed camera doesn’t flash, it hasn’t caught you
Don’t be fooled by this one, as speed cameras can be very deceptive. Depending on the type of speed camera, law-breaking citizens will be caught differently.
Speed cameras produced by Gatso will generally flash to take a picture of you speeding, though other types of cameras will use infra-red light to capture the image – meaning they won’t necessarily flash.
Unfortunately, this does not mean you will have gotten away with it. The only way you can avoid being caught, is simply by not speeding.
10. You can drive 10% over the speed limit
Another myth you shouldn’t fall for. Driving over the speed limit is categorically illegal, and if you are caught doing so you could receive both a fine and points on your license.
This misconception is caused by the fact that many speedometers allow for a 10% error in overestimation, but this doesn’t mean that you can travel above the speed limit.
You can be prosecuted by travelling even 1mph over the speed limit if a police officer catches you doing so.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) tries to make this easier by suggesting that officers don’t prosecute until drivers exceed the limit by 10% in order to allow for speedometer error.
Since it’s hard to know just how lenient a police officer may be in each case, it’s better to make sure you don’t exceed the limit at all.
11. Fully comprehensive insurance policies allow you to drive any car you want
If you have a fully comprehensive driving insurance policy, this usually means that you can drive another vehicle if you have the owner’s permission.
However, there are certain factors which would mean you cannot drive another person’s vehicle despite having this policy in place. These include if:
- You are under 25
- You have previous driving convictions
- The car you intend to drive is particularly different or unusual
Though this may be the case for normal drivers, you cannot however use any car as a taxi. Any car used as a taxi must be properly registered through your operator and pass the standard safety requirements.
You should always check the specifics of your insurance policy before driving another car to make sure this is legal.
12. Buying a new taxi from a retail dealership is as cheap as the Taxi Centre
Of course, we had to throw this one in! As we know for a fact it is not true.
When you buy a taxi from us, we can offer you huge savings against the manufacturer’s RRP and exclusive offers which you simply cannot get at a standard dealership.
That’s because at The Taxi Centre, we are motivated to bring you the best deals for you and your business – making it easier than ever to upgrade your taxi at a fantastic price.
Need persuading? Head to our website to view our latest offers and see what savings you could make with your next taxi.
We hope you’ve found this article useful and feel well-informed to keep yourself on the right side of the law. For more useful advice and guidance, keep up to date with our newsroom.