Fact or fiction? Common car myths cleared up

Goldfish have three-second memories, humans only use ten per cent of their brains, you should drink eight glasses of water a day, and it takes seven years for your body to digest a piece of gum – we’ve all heard these ‘facts’ at some time or another but the real fact is, these are all untrue.

Yep, that’s right, each one of these commonly passed down pieces of information are scientifically proven myths.

carsales spoke with the insurance team at Finder to separate fact from fiction on some of the most common myths surrounding cars and driving.

This myth is truer than not, but it still isn’t straightforward says Gary Hunter, car insurance expert at Finder.

“These days, modern vehicles are designed to handle a range of conditions, but frequently running your tank close to empty could cause damage over time as the fuel pump overheats or wears out.

"Additionally, running your car low can harm the filter. A consistent stream of fuel should allow the filter to stay clear and do its job. When you run the car on empty and do so frequently, the filter can become blocked as the car tries to run on the debris left at the bottom of the tank,“ he explains.

I had a friend of mine who was adamant that this ‘fact’ was true, they even chose the colour of their new car based on this. But according to Hunter, there was no point.

“The colour of a car doesn’t make it less likely to be stolen,” he says.

Instead, “Thieves will typically target cars based on their model and perceived value.”

“There’s a common misconception that driving with your indoor car light on is illegal, but this isn’t necessarily true,” says Hunter.

However, he does say that it might be considered a distraction, so it's advisable not to do it.

This one was always told to me by my grandpa and while his warning was effective (I have never driven with a tissue box in my car), it also turns out it is probably wrong Hunter says.

“It’s extremely unlikely a box of tissues could cause serious harm.

However, for the purpose of safety, it’s always a good idea to secure items that are loose.”

Also, how is a tissue box placed on the rear window shelf convenient for anyone to use?

What was once standard advice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has changed (a fraction).

It now recommends “the 9 and 3 positions, similar to many other driving organisations,” explains Hunter.

This myth is more complex, with a combination of factors at play.

“It’s true that larger cars can often provide more protection in some accidents due to their size and weight, but this isn’t always the case. Vehicle safety is measured by crash test ratings, safety features, the design of the car and how the driver operates the vehicle,” Hunter tells carsales.

I'm sure nearly everyone has done this one at some point or another, whether it is at the pointy end of a really big day, or after travelling for a long distance and in an attempt to relax you pull off the shoes and pop your feet up on the passenger side dash.

But is this legal? Is it safe? Richard Laycock, Editor at Finder says, it isn’t technically illegal, but it is extremely dangerous.

“If you get into a crash and the airbags deploy, you'll seriously injure yourself,” he says.

“One woman in the US broke her ankle, femur, nose, shoulder and arm travelling like this when the car she was in collided with another and the airbags deployed. Her own leg broke her nose and shoulder. Two years after the accident, she was still unable to return to work as a paramedic. Doctors told her if she had rested her feet on the floor, she wouldn't have even needed to go to the hospital.”

Like the feet on the dash (what is it with feet?), wearing thongs or going barefoot while driving is not actually illegal, but it can too, be dangerous.

“Loose footwear such as sandals and thongs can become lodged between or underneath pedals and they aren't as sturdy for walking on metal shards and glass fragments scattered across the road if you do get into an accident.

"Wearing a proper pair of shoes will give you better control of the pedals and stop your foot from slipping off. They also even out the pressure from pushing a pedal down across a wider part of your sole,” Laycock says.

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