My son asked me the other day if it is illegal to drive barefoot. I also remember my daughter asking the same question when she was learning to drive. It made me wonder what other random questions teens have and the urban myths and legends floating about. I set out to do a little research and here are some answers to questions you may (or may not) be curious about.
Putting sugar in a vehicle’s gas tank will ruin the engine.
According to snopes.com sugar will not dissolve in gasoline and will remain in a granular state. If it is a small amount of sugar, it can be taken care of by changing the filters between the tank and engine. A large amount would require the tank to be emptied and cleaned.
Wearing a seat belt may prevent me from escaping from my vehicle in case of a car fire or it goes into water.
Death by incineration or drowning accounts for less than one-tenth of one percent of auto-related deaths. According to NHTSA.gov, most fatal crashes result from the force of impact or being thrown from the vehicle, not being trapped. All studies show you are much more likely to survive a crash if you are buckled in. Ejected occupants are four times as likely to be killed as those who remain inside.
Storing a car battery on a concrete floor will drain it.
This may have been true at one time, but batteries are now made with a hard case that keeps contents from escaping and foreign contents from entering and a battery is completely safe on a cement floor.
All unpaid tickets I received before I am 18 will be forgiven on my 18th birthday.
False, false, false. Turning 18 means voting rights, new responsibilities and privileges, but your existing tickets are still yours.
Using cruise control on wet road or during heavy rain can cause you to hydroplane and lose control of your car.
This warning is worth listening to. Snow, ice, slush or rain can cause wheels to spin and possible loss of control. It’s best to not use cruise control during slippery conditions.
Red cars receive more tickets and have a higher insurance rate.
There is no data to support the myth that red cars get more tickets and there are no major insurance companies that consider car color in determining rates.
So is it illegal to drive barefoot? No. It is not recommended in most states, but it is not illegal.
What myths and legends have you heard?