So, you want to make sure your pco car rental is in perfect working order; and there’s plenty of theories on what makes your car work best, what causes it problems, and who makes a better driver. But how much of that is true?
Below are some popular myths made about cars and their drivers – and we reveal if they’re worth believing or worth ignoring!
RUMOUR 1: AIR CONDITIONING AFFECTS FUEL ECONOMY
If the weather is very hot, it can require a little extra fuel to get the vehicle to cool down at first; but once the temperature has dropped, keeping it that way makes little to no difference to fuel economy.
Furthermore, it can be a bad idea to keep your air conditioning turned off all the time – any mechanical system left untouched is much more likely to break down!
Answer – False
RUMOUR 2: YOU CAN WASH YOUR CAR WITH ANY DETERGENT
Some consider the washing of your car to be a boring exercise – one you want to get out of the way as soon as possible. Does it matter what soap or detergent you use, if the job’s done?
It does!
Household detergents are designed to remove grease and can end up removing the wax coating on your car that protects it from all types of weather, or bird poo which is also highly corrosive.
It’s worth spending extra money on a product designed to clean cars and avoid any long-term damage being done – or simply taking it to a professional car wash which will have the appropriate products available!
Answer – False
RUMOUR 3: WHERE YOU PARK YOUR CAR AFFECTS YOUR INSURANCE PREMIUM
Depending on what you have access to, you might wish this was false!
If you’re fortunate enough to have a garage, then you can get a better deal from insurance companies, whilst those without a garage will have to pay a higher premium.
But those with garages, be warned; if you do tell your insurance company that you park your car in the garage, they might not pay out if it gets stolen whilst parked on the street!
Answer – True
RUMOUR 4: CARS ARE USELESS PAST 100,000 MILES
Such a belief may have had some truth to it in the past, but every car is different. Cars are more reliable than they used to be and provided car owners spend money look after their cars, they can last well beyond 100,000 miles.
With this in mind, Never be hasty in buying a new car – take good care of what you have, and you’ll be surprised how long your car can last!
Answer – False
RUMOUR 5: DRINKS ARE LESS DANGEROUS TO A DRIVER THAN THEIR MOBILE PHONE
Several studies have shown that drivers using their mobile phones are more dangerous than those under the influence of alcohol.
In a 2006 study by the University of Utah, the reaction times of people who had been drinking and who were talking on a mobile phone were recorded; those who drank managed to avoid crashing into the virtual pace car, but three of the subjects who were distracted by a phone, failed.
However, this doesn’t take away the clear and present danger of drink-driving; since 2010, around 13% of UK’s driving related deaths are due to alcohol abuse.
Just make sure that when you’re out driving next, avoid all distractions and keep yours, and other people’s lives, safe.
Answer – True
RUMOUR 6: COASTING DOWNHILL IN NEUTRAL SAVES YOU PETROL
Some people will tell you that petrol can be saved going downhill, whilst you’re in neutral. The reality is, the engine is idling – meaning, it uses the same amount of fuel as it would if you were driving properly.
Not only that, idling downhill is incredibly dangerous. It prevents you from using your accelerator if you need to avoid any hazards, putting yourself and other drivers in danger.
Answer – False
RUMOUR 7: MEN DRIVE BETTER THAN WOMEN
It’s the classic myth, passed from generation to generation – women can’t drive and if they do, they don’t drive properly. According to a survey from Privilege Insurance, only 28% of women considered they could be better than male drivers, whilst only 13% of men thought it possible that women could drive better.
But at Hyde Park Corner, 200 drivers – male and female – took part in a driving assessment programme. The women scored 23.6 points out of a possible 30, while the men only scored 19.8 points when marked on 14 different aspects of driving.
One the categories – tailgating – saw just 4% of women drive too close to the vehicle in front, as opposed to 27% of men. And nearly half of men approached hazards too fast compared with only a quarter of women.
According to Privilege Insurance, women are in fact better drivers than men – or at the very least, safer!
Answer – False
As you can see, there is a lot of false information out there, and it’s important to know right from wrong. Once you know the truth, your pco car career will become better for all!
