Bad driving advice spreads fast — from older relatives, nervous friends, and dodgy internet forums. The trouble is, some of these myths are so convincing that learner drivers carry them all the way into their practical test, and beyond. Let's set the record straight on the most persistent driving myths circulating in the UK right now.
Myth 1: You Get a 10% Speeding Allowance
This is probably the most dangerous myth on the road today. Many drivers believe police won't act unless you're travelling more than 10% above the speed limit — so doing 33 mph in a 30 zone feels "safe." In reality, there is no legal tolerance built into UK law. The 10% figure is an informal guideline some forces have historically used, but it is not a right, it is not consistent across all areas, and it absolutely does not apply on your driving test. Your examiner will mark you for driving too fast for the conditions regardless. Stick to the limit.
Myth 2: Driving Barefoot Is Illegal
Completely false. There is no law in the UK that prohibits driving barefoot. The Highway Code does not specify what footwear you must wear — only that you are in proper control of the vehicle. That said, flip-flops or heels that could slip off the pedals are genuinely risky. Barefoot is technically legal, but sensible, well-fitting shoes are always the safer choice.
Myth 3: You Must Always Drive in the Left Lane on a Motorway
You should keep left when it's safe and clear — that part is true. But the myth version goes further, insisting you must move left immediately after every overtake, even in heavy traffic. Undertaking a lane-hopper by staying in the middle lane is not permitted, and neither is weaving in and out unnecessarily. The rule is to keep left when you reasonably can, not to perform an obstacle course across the carriageway every 200 metres.
Myth 4: Fog Lights Should Be Used in Heavy Rain
Rear fog lights are only for use when visibility drops below 100 metres — roughly the length of a football pitch. Using them in ordinary heavy rain is actually an offence under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, and it blinds the drivers behind you, masking your brake lights. Front fog lights have a similar rule. If you can see clearly beyond 100 metres, switch them off.
Myth 5: Flashing Your Headlights Gives Right of Way
The Highway Code is unambiguous: flashing headlights should only be used to alert other road users to your presence. It does not grant right of way to another vehicle. If someone flashes you out of a junction and you pull out into a collision, the legal responsibility still falls on you. Never assume a flash means "go." Confirm it's safe using your own observation.
Myth 6: You Can Eat or Drink at the Wheel Legally
There's no specific law banning eating or drinking a non-alcoholic drink while driving — but that doesn't make it safe or consequence-free. If a police officer decides you are not in proper control of your vehicle, you can be charged with careless or dangerous driving, carrying a fine and penalty points. On your driving test, anything that takes a hand off the wheel unnecessarily could earn you a fault.
How SteerClear Can Help You Learn the Rules That Matter
SteerClear is a UK app designed for learner drivers that lets you practise real DVSA test centre routes with live AI scoring. Understanding the rules behind the manoeuvres is just as important as perfecting them — and knowing what's myth versus reality could be the difference between a pass and a fail.
The Bottom Line
- The speed limit is the speed limit — no 10% buffer on your test
- Fog lights are for fog (or visibility under 100 m), not rain
- A headlight flash is a warning, never a right of way
- You are always responsible for your own road position and safety
- Questionable advice from family members does not override the Highway Code
Next time someone confidently tells you one of these "facts," you'll know exactly what to say — and more importantly, what not to do behind the wheel.