We were all given rules to keep us safe in the car as children, but while some of these were built on truth, others were outright lies.

Our parents or guardians may have told us these fibs to keep us from messing around in the backseat, to make sure we wore a seatbelt, or to just give themselves some peace.

But many of these rules have stayed with us over the years and continue to be passed down through generations, with none of us really knowing how true they are.

The LeaseCar.uk team have remembered four common sayings parents often preach to their kids while they’re driving, to reveal if they’re grounded in any truth or if Brits are just misinformed on simple road rules.

Taking a look at the Highway Code and current laws, here is the truth about the rules you were taught as a kid.

“Don’t put your feet on the dashboard”

There is no law against sitting with your feet on the dashboard, but it is incredibly dangerous.

An x-ray circulated the internet at the start of the year showing exactly why you shouldn’t put your feet on the dash.

The horrifying X-ray shows the pelvis of a front seat passenger who was resting her feet on the dash in a moving car when it was involved in a crash.

One hip is completely dislocated while the other is broken.

Reports also suggest she suffered several other fractures to her legs.

So, whilst you may not have to face legal repercussions for driving with your feet up, it could be a life altering mistake.

“Don’t lie across the backseats”

This one isn’t so straightforward.

If you’re able to lay across the seats whilst still wearing a seatbelt, there’s nothing to suggest that this is an outright criminal offence.

It is, however, rather dangerous.

If you were involved in a collision whilst lying across the backseats, the seatbelt would probably not support and protect you as it was designed to do.

If you lie across the backseat with no seatbelt on, you can be fined up to £500.

“Don’t turn the interior lights on while we’re driving”

This is a common myth that many adults probably fall for too, but it turns out that it is just that - a myth.

The Highway Code does not say anything about being unable to drive with the interior light on, and there is no direct law prohibiting it.

However, there are a few caveats to the rule. When turned on, the light must not distract the driver or shine out of the back windscreen to obstruct the view of anyone that is travelling in a vehicle behind.


So, if you were pulled over by a police officer who deemed your interior light to be a driving distraction, they’d have the right to tell you to turn it off.

“Don’t turn the music up too loud”

This is one rule that is actually justified.

Listening to loud music is illegal if it’s disturbing other people on a regular basis or if it’s causing you to drive erratically.

UK laws dictate the punishment varies depending on whether you’re parked up or driving along as dealing with drivers pumping out tunes falls between the local authority and the police.

In the worst-case scenario, traffic cops can stop and seize a vehicle that is causing alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.

Police can also issue on-the-spot fines to drivers who have custom exhausts or noisy engines.