Under the Hood: De-bunking Five Common Driving Myths

phone being used as sat nav on dashboard of car

There are plenty of us who treat driving myths as if they’re gospel. Most of us heard about them when we were learning to drive. Some of us have probably even adjusted the way that we have driven ever since on account of these myths. We’re here to debunk five of the common driving myths, so you can drive worry-free!

Two pints is the limit for men and a large glass of wine is the limit for women

This is one of the most common (and most dangerous) driving myths around. Many people use ‘two pints for men, one large glass of wine for women’ as a strict rule when in fact there are many factors which can affect your blood-alcohol level. The amount you’ve eaten, how tired you are, whether you’ve exercised and any medication you are on can all affect your blood-alcohol level at any time. The best rule is to avoid alcohol if you’re driving. (Plus: Who said all men drink pints and women drink wine anyway?)

You get 10% flexibility over the speed limit

No, you don’t. This has caught many people out and given them some unexpected speeding points too. Whilst many speed cameras allow for a 10% error in overestimation, this isn’t true of all them. Technically if you’re 1mph over the limit, you are liable for prosecution via a speed camera or otherwise. The best (and only) thing to do is to stay under the limit at all times.

It is illegal to have a light on in a car while driving

Many of us have screamed at a passenger flicking on a light during a night-time journey or have pulled over in frustration to have one last look at the map. Well, you might be surprised to know that there is no law that states you can’t have a light on while you drive. However, you can be pulled over if a police officer deems it to be a distraction.

I can use my phone in the car if it’s for sat nav

Yes and no. Any unfixed phone that’s being used in the car (i.e. on your lap, balanced in a cup holder) is deemed unsafe and could lead to you receiving a fine for careless driving. If you’re using a phone for sat nav, it must be fixed by a phone holder either on the windscreen or dashboard.

Driving myths are amongst the least helpful myths around – they can affect the way we drive and cause us to make crucial mistakes. The next time you’re about to get behind the wheel bear in mind that unless it’s written into law, you should leave it by the roadside!

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Dashboard Lights Explained: A Complete Guide

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We've all been there: a light is flashing away on your dashboard with increasing alarm and you have no idea what it means. There are so many dashboard lights that it's easy to be confused with what they all mean. So, to save you from flicking through your car manual, we’ve got an easy overview for you to get familiar with.

Red dashboard lights

These are the warning lights on your dashboard that you need to be most concerned about. They carry more severe warnings and should be acted upon as soon as possible: either by pulling into your nearest garage or stopping the car and calling a professional.

Oil warning

This warns you that something isn’t right with your oil: its temperature could be too high or its level and pressure could be too low. Oil protects the parts of your engine against friction by lubricating its parts via a pressure pump. If there is something wrong with your oil, you could be in for some expensive engine damage. Not good.

Coolant warning

Your coolant helps to keep your engine’s temperature regulated: without it, your engine would overheat to the point where its components would start to warp. If this light starts flashing, either your engine is overheating or your coolant level is too low. This could be an easy-fix issue or a sign of a bigger problem.

Battery charge warning

This light comes on every time you turn on your engine and will usually turn off a few seconds after. However, if you see this light remains on while you’re driving, there’s normally a problem with your electrical system. This could be a bad connection, a dodgy battery, damaged cabling or a faulty alternator. All of these could cause the car to effectively shut off and break down involuntarily – get it checked.

Brake system warning

Your brakes are one of the most important features of your vehicle. If this light comes on and your handbrake is down, there could be something wrong with your braking system. This could be that the brake fluid level is low or a more serious issue.

Airbag warning

Your airbag is one of the most modern and effective safety features in your vehicle. If this light comes on, there could be a fault with it. Without proper function, your airbag won’t go off in a crash and could cause serious harm to you and your passengers.

Power steering warning

Power steering is the technology behind your steering wheel that allows you to move it with ease. You might not have experienced what it feels like without it, but it’s a lot heavier to turn. This can be very dangerous for some drivers.

Amber dashboard lights

These lights indicate an issue with the engine which will affect the car’s performance and if left unchecked, could cause danger. It’s best to get these looked at sooner rather than later.

Check engine warning

This is a general warning light which indicates that there is something wrong with the engine that can reduce its performance. This could be anything from the ignition to the pistons.

ABS warning

The ABS light refers to the Anti-lock Braking System, which prevents you from skidding during heavy braking. Whilst the normal brake system will be unaffected, you should heed any consistent warning from this light as something could be wrong with your brakes.

Tyre pressure warning

This light indicates that the pressure in your tyres is wrong. If there is no noise from the vehicle and you get out and there is no sign of a flat tyre, you should be okay to drive on (cautiously) until you can check them properly.

The next time you see a symbol flashing away on your dashboard, hopefully, you’ll know what it’s trying to tell you. In any case, a warning light indicates that something isn’t right and you should get it sorted as soon as you can.

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DIY MOT: Three Essential Car Maintenance Tips

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Servicing your car is an essential part of maintaining the safety and performance of your vehicle. However, there are plenty of things you can do in between your visits to the garage. Performing some general maintenance on your car can help to prevent the need for extensive services and reduce your MOT bill.

1. Keep an eye on your tyres

Naturally, your tyres are one of the most important parts of your vehicle so looking after them should be a priority. The easiest way to do this is to make sure they are at the right pressure: this can help to increase their lifespan and improves your driving performance. Another thing to keep an eye on is the thread depth. This is the depth of the grooves in the tyre which help it to grip the road and deal with rougher surfaces. You can test if these are at a safe depth by putting a 20 pence piece in: if the outer band of the coin is obscured by the thread then you are within the legal limit.

2. Learn the meaning of dashboard indicators

If you’ve seen a light flashing on your dashboard and had no idea what it means, you’re not alone. However, learning the meaning of these indicators is one of the best ways of understanding your car and keeping yourself safe. The main lights on the dashboard include the check engine light, electrical fault light, brake warning light, anti-lock braking systems light, coolant warning light, oil warning light and service engine light. If you know what your car needs, you’re in a much better position to act on what it needs.

3. Liquid levels

This is the easiest way to keep your car in good condition. Your engine contains many parts which endure friction when the car is running. To counteract the heat and stress caused by this friction you need engine oil and coolant. Checking the level of these two liquids helps to keep your engine running smoothly by reducing the stress the engine experiences. These are easy to replace as most modern cars have filling levels indicated on their oil stick and coolant tank respectively.

Having your car serviced is an essential part of keeping your vehicle running properly. However, it’s also important to have a good understanding of your car. This can minimise the number of issues that need to be resolved by a garage, which saves you money and keeps your car in better condition.

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*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.
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