Why do we believe our “parents rules” are actually laws? Here are 7 common driving myths passed down to us from our parents rules that are merely myths.
Myth #1 – It Is Illegal to Drive With The Interior Light/Dome Light On
We all grew up hearing, “Turn that light off! It’s illegal and I can’t see!” * The Reality: There is no statute in the California Vehicle Code (or most other states) that specifically forbids driving with the interior dome light on.
Interior lights are designed for map reading and finding lost items. If they were strictly illegal to use while the car was in motion, manufacturers wouldn’t allow them to function unless the car was in “Park.”
Even though it isn’t “illegal,” your parents were right about one thing: Safety.
- Pupil Dilation: When it is dark outside, your pupils dilate to let in more light so you can see the road. Turning on a bright interior light causes your pupils to contract instantly.
- The “Flash” Effect: When you turn the light back off, your eyes need several seconds (or even minutes) to re-adjust to the darkness. During those seconds, you are effectively driving blind.
- Just because there isn’t a “Light Law” doesn’t mean you can’t get pulled over.
- Distracted Driving: If an officer sees you driving with the light on, they may assume you are distracted—searching for a dropped phone, reading a physical map, or dealing with a passenger issue.
- The “Impaired Vision” Citation: Under California Vehicle Code 26708, if anything obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield, you can be cited. A bright dome light reflecting off the glass creates a “veiling glare” that technically obstructs your view of the road.
Myth #2 – It’s Illegal to Drive With Headphones/Earbuds On
Can you listen to a podcast with noise canceling headphones/earbuds while driving? It depends. This is one of the most misunderstood laws. It’s misunderstood because each state has their own idea’s about the subject.
In states like California, Florida and New York it is illegal to wear headphones or earbuds that cover both ears. You are allowed to keep one earbud in. Usually for your use of GPS and phone calls, but the other ear must be open to the environment.
Some states are strict about it. In Maryland you cannot use headphones or earbuds what-so-ever while the vehicle is in motion.
Then you have Texas that has no specific law about headphones or earbuds. You can be stopped and cited for “Inattentive Driving” if a cop thinks you’re distracted.
Myth #3 – It Is Illegal To Have Open Non-Alcoholic Drinks In The Cab
The myth here is that “Open Container Laws” apply to all liquid’s. This is completely false. The open container laws (like those in California Vehicle Code 23222) are specifically and exclusively about alcohol. There is one exception! If you have a non-alcohol drink in a container that looks like a flask or a beer bottle, you aren’t breaking the open container law, but you are inviting a “Probable Cause” search. And the “put the alcohol in the slurpie cup or coffee container, forget it. The cops are totally on to that!
While coffee, soda and water are not illegal, the act of drinking it can be! Most states have some sort of law on the books pertaining to “Failure To Exercise Due Care” or “Inattentive Driving” laws. If you’re holding a hot cup of coffee in one hand, and the steering wheel with the other, and you swerve even slightly, you can be stopped and issued a ticket.
In some jurisdictions the “unsecured loads law” can apply to the inside of your vehicle. Heavy liter bottles rolling around on the floor could potentially lodge under the brake pedal.
Myth #4 – It’s Against The Law To Drive With High Heels
This is similar to driving barefoot, there is no specific law in the US, UK or Canada that’s ban’s high heels. However, you can be cited for “Failure To Exercise Due Care” if your choice in footwear causes you to drive erratically.
Your heel needs to be planted on the floorboard for you to properly pivot from accelerator to brake and vice versa. With a heel like a stiletto it forces your heel into a much higher position. In this high position you will have to raise your entire leg to move from gas to brake. This can significantly affect your reaction time.
The heel of a high heel can get caught in the mat flooring or wedged under the brake causing you not to be able to depress the brake. Police actually have a name for this they use when writing accident reports. It’s called “Pedal Misapplication” or “Entrapment“.
If you are rear-ended, but the other driver’s lawyer finds out you were wearing 4-inch heels, they may argue that your reaction time was delayed by your shoes.
In “Comparative Negligence” states, this could result in you being found 10-20% at fault for the accident, which could cost you thousands in your settlement.
To stay safe, many drivers keep a pair of flat “driving shoes” in the car and swap them out before starting the engine
Myth #5 – You Must Drive With Two Hands On The Steering Wheel
There is no specific statute in the vehicle code that dictates exactly where your hands must be on the wheel. You will not find a law that says “10 and 2” or “9 and 3.”
Police look for “Effective Control.” If you are driving with one knee, or using one finger to steer while the other hand is holding a phone or a burger, you can be cited for Reckless Driving or Failure to Maintain a Lane. * The “One-Hand” Necessity: Laws recognize that you must take a hand off the wheel to shift gears (in a manual), operate windshield wipers, or adjust climate controls. Therefore, “two hands at all times” is legally impossible.
Safety experts now recommend the “9 and 3” position to avoid injury from airbag deployment. As long as you can react instantly to a hazard, your hand position is a matter of safety, not a matter of law.
Myth #6 – It Is Against The Law To Drive With A Cast Or Brace
Some people believe that if their doctor didn’t explicitly say, “Don’t drive” then it’s okay to drive with a cast or a brace on. Most states do not have a law that says, “Thou shalt not drive whilst wearing a cast or brace.” What you could be cited for is, again, “Failure To Exercise Due Care” or “impaired Operation”. A cast, or brace, limits your mobility, your ability to react quickly and some are just plain cumbersome. You’re driving ability is impaired. Also, many insurance companies have a negligence clause. if you are in an accident your insurance may claim that, “You voluntarily operated a motor vehicle while physically impaired”. They may decline to pay the claim even if it wasn’t technically your fault.
Myth #7 – There’s No Harm Splashing Pedestrians
While many people think that splashing pedestrians is just plain rude, others may find it funny. In many parts of the world it is considered a crime that can incur massive fines!
The United Kingdom has the strictest and most specific laws concerning splashing. Under Section 3 of The Road Traffic Act 1988, driving “without reasonable consideration for other persons” is an offense. The fine can be as much as 100 pounds and 3 penalty points on your license. If it goes to court and deemed to be “deliberate” or “aggressive” the fine sky-rockets to 5,000 pounds!!
Canada and the United States have a “mischief” clause . If a dash cam or police office see’s you swerve to splash a pedestrian you can be charged with simple assault, or mischief. In some jurisdictions it is considered battery. You are using an object (water) to strike someone against their will. The act of intentionally speeding through a puddle you can be cited for “Careless Driving” because you failed to slow down for road conditions
In Conclusion: The “Reasonable Driver” Standard
The Bottom Line: While much of what we were told as kids—like the “legality” of barefoot driving or interior lights—turned out to be parental folklore, these myths are rooted in a very real concept: The Reasonable Driver Standard.
In the eyes of the law, it doesn’t always matter if a specific act is forbidden by a statute. What matters is whether that act—be it eating a burger, wearing one earbud, or driving with bare feet—interfered with your ability to operate your vehicle safely.
The Solution Checklist for Every Drive:
- Auditory Awareness: Can you hear the world around you?
- Manual Control: Are both hands free to steer and shift?
- Visual Clarity: Is your line of sight clear of glare or distractions?
- Pedal Precision: Can you apply the brakes instantly without a shoe (or a loose object) getting in the way?
By separating folklore from fact, you can drive with the confidence that you are both legal and, more importantly, safe.
© 2026 Ms. Millar