Seven driving myths debunked
A motoring expert debunks the seven driving myths still confusing UK drivers
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Online discussions show that motorists are still debating some of the most common driving myths, from whether exceeding the speed limit is allowed when overtaking to whether a camera has to flash to catch you speeding.
Some of these misconceptions could leave drivers misunderstanding the law or making the wrong decision behind the wheel. Picking up a handheld phone while stopped at traffic lights, for example, can result in six penalty points and a £200 fine.
Ben Welham, our motoring expert, said: “A lot of these myths have stuck around because they sound believable or have been repeated for years, but there can be a big difference between what the law says, what the Highway Code advises and something drivers have simply heard from other people.”
Whether you're driving a brand-new vehicle or used car, don't let these myths land you in trouble.
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1. “You’re allowed to drive 10% + 2mph over the speed limit”
The so-called ‘10% + 2mph rule’ is often repeated as though it gives drivers a small legal buffer above the speed limit. Online discussions show there’s still uncertainty around whether it really exists.
Rule 124 of the Highway Code says drivers must not exceed the maximum speed limit for the road and the vehicle they’re driving, meaning any enforcement threshold motorists may have heard about doesn’t change the legal limit itself.
Ben said: “You’ll often hear about ‘thresholds’ for speeding fines, but there aren’t any allowances for speeding in the Highway Code.
“If you’re driving on a 30mph road, 30mph is still the maximum speed you can go.”
2. “You can break the speed limit when overtaking”
Overtaking can put drivers under pressure to get past another vehicle and return to their lane quickly, but starting a manoeuvre doesn’t give them permission to temporarily exceed the speed limit.
One recent Reddit thread shows motorists debating whether temporarily exceeding the speed limit can be justified if it allows an overtake to be completed more quickly.
Rule 163 of the Highway Code says motorists should only overtake when it’s safe and legal to do so, while Rule 124 still requires them to remain within the maximum speed limit.
Ben said: “If the only way you can overtake comfortably is by going above the speed limit, you probably didn’t have enough room to make the move in the first place.
“Make sure you have enough visibility, time and space before pulling out. If you don’t, it’s better to hold back and wait for a clearer opportunity.”
3. “It’s illegal to drive with the interior light on”
Many drivers first heard this one from their parents, who warned that switching on the interior light while the car was moving was illegal, but there’s no specific law banning it.
The myth clearly still resonates online, with a Reddit discussion asking whether anyone else was told the same thing as a child getting more than 670 upvotes.
The real issue is distraction. Rule 148 says that safe driving requires concentration, advising motorists to avoid anything that could take their attention away from the road.
Ben said: “Telling children it was illegal was likely an effective way for parents to get them to leave the light alone.
“The law itself may be a myth, but there’s some sensible advice behind it. If it’s creating glare, reflections or making it harder to concentrate on the road, ask for it to be switched off.”
4. “You can check your phone while stopped at traffic lights”
Being stopped at a red light isn’t the same as being safely parked, and drivers can’t pick up their phone to check a message or notification while they wait.
Government guidance states that the ban on holding and using a phone while driving still applies when motorists are stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic or driving a car whose engine switches itself off automatically.
The penalty for doing so is six points, which means drivers who passed their test within the previous two years could lose their licence for checking their phone.
It remains a common sight on UK roads too, with a recent Reddit post highlighting drivers checking their phones while waiting at red lights attracting more than 260 upvotes.
Ben said: “Being stopped at a red light doesn’t mean you can use your phone. The same rule applies when you’re queuing in traffic, even if your car’s stop-start system has switched the engine off.
“If you need to use your phone, wait until you’re safely parked. Checking a message at the lights could mean six points and a £200 fine, so it simply isn’t worth the risk.”
5. “Having ‘right of way’ means another driver has to let you go”
Drivers often talk about having ‘right of way’ at junctions, roundabouts and other situations where two road users meet, but the phrase can make priority sound more absolute than it really is.
Confusion over the phrase regularly appears online, with Reddit discussions continuing to ask which driver has ‘right of way’ in everyday road situations.
The Highway Code says its rules “do not give you the right of way in any circumstance”, but instead advise road users when they should give way to others. It also says drivers should always give way if doing so could help avoid an incident.
Ben said: “We all talk about having ‘right of way’, but having priority doesn’t mean everybody else will automatically get out of your way.
“Another driver might have misread the road, not seen you or just made a mistake. If another vehicle starts moving into your path, slow down and give yourself enough space to react.”
6. “If a speed camera doesn’t flash, you haven’t been caught”
The bright flash from some speed cameras has become so closely associated with getting caught some motorists assume no flash means their speed hasn’t been recorded.
However, that isn’t a reliable way to tell. Average-speed cameras, for example, work by recording vehicles at two or more points and calculating how long they take to travel a known distance. National Highways says its systems use Automatic Number Plate Recognition and infrared illuminators, allowing them to operate around the clock and in different weather conditions, so the camera flash doesn’t come into it.
The assumption is still being questioned online, with one post receiving hundreds of upvotes after a driver asked why a speed camera hadn't flashed despite them travelling above the limit.
Ben said: “There are different types of camera tech on UK roads, so not seeing a flash shouldn’t be taken as reassurance that you haven't been caught.
“The safest approach is to keep an eye on the posted limit and your speed rather than looking for a flash after you pass a camera.”
7. “Undertaking is always illegal”
The rules around passing slower traffic on the left are often shortened to ‘undertaking is illegal’, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Rule 268 of the Highway Code tells drivers not to overtake on the left or move into a lane on their left specifically to overtake.
However, in congested conditions where lanes are moving at different speeds, drivers may continue with the traffic in their lane, even if this means passing vehicles on their right.
That’s different from deliberately moving into the left-hand lane to pass a slower vehicle before moving back across. The Crown Prosecution Service includes overtaking on the inside among examples of behaviour that can amount to careless or inconsiderate driving, depending on the circumstances.
Ben said: “If you’re already in the left lane in slow traffic and your lane starts moving faster, you don’t need to brake just so to stay behind a car to your right. That’s very different from deliberately dropping into the left lane to get around somebody and then cutting back across.
“Keep your lane changes predictable, avoid weaving through traffic and leave enough space around the cars near you.”
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