Here are common misconceptions on driving perpetuated by history, the media and or just plain dumb analysis. This ranges from bad maintenance advice to mistaken safety tips. Here are 10 common myths to watch out for.
# 6 - Luxury nameplates are the be-all and end-all. Movies and marketers alike drill this message into all of us. Let’s analyze it objectively: Luxury brands typically have better resale values than their garden-variety counterparts, but they also tend to cost more. In a level playing field, the difference is often slight.
Also consider repair bills, which tend to be higher for luxury brands. Such is the hidden cost of leather seats and chrome accents. Still worth it? You decide.
#7 - Talking on a hands-free headset while driving is a safe alternative to holding a cell phone. We’re not going to debate the lesser of two evils. Here are the facts: one in 12 18- to 24-year-olds on the road at any given time is also on a cell phone. One-quarter of all police-reported accidents are caused by driver distraction, and cell phones play a significant role. In fact, the risk of collision can be four times higher when driving and talking on a phone.
The culprit isn’t holding a cell phone or one-armed driving; it’s taking your mind off the task at hand: safely piloting 3,000 pounds of steel to your intended destination. A headset does nothing to mitigate this; pull over or put it away. Enough said.
# 8 - You don’t have to wear a seat belt when you’re sitting in the backseat. Few people explicitly advocate this, but actions speak louder than words: Fewer than half of all rear-seat passengers wear seat belts, compared with the 80 percent average for all vehicle occupants. There are two risks that unbelted backseat passengers incur: First, they’re unable to take full advantage of the vehicle’s safety features, and accidents — especially rollovers — put them at high risk. Second, they become projectiles toward others during the collision, increasing the likelihood of injury among their fellow occupants.
During a collision, unbelted backseat passengers create a 20 percent greater chance of death for occupants seated in front of them. Crashes are often so violent and contain such high energy that there’s no way you’re going to be able to physically stay where you are.
