Is it illegal to drive while eating? Steer clear of these motoring myths

Is it legal in Australia to drive barefoot? How about eating while driving? Is it legal to drive while listening to music on headphones?

Every Australian driver has passed a road rules and driving skills test to secure a valid licence but these questions remain tricky for many, a survey by Rollin' Insurance has found.

The survey of 1011 Australians found that no single participant scored 100 per cent on the 11 question quiz covering common driving myths.

Northern Territorians scored the highest average with 56.8 per cent while Tasmanians were last with an average of 45.4 per cent.

According to survey results 90.5 per cent of participants knew that having a dog sit on a driver's lap was illegal and unsafe.

Drivers were also savvy about parking too close to fire hydrants with 89.8 per cent of selecting correctly.

However some questions stumped drivers.

Only 6.9 per cent knew that driving with headphones was not explicitly illegal for motorists except learner and provisional licence holders.

It is also technically legal, though not advised, for passengers to put their feet on the dashboard. Only 9.5 per cent of participants answered this question correctly.

While there are no specific prohibitions against many of the acts mentioned in the survey police could deem a driver to be lacking control of the vehicle and issue punishments accordingly.

Police expect drivers to manage risk factors including footwear, headphone volume and any injuries or casts. Failure to do so could end in penalties.

Aside from drink driving and speeding, distracted driving is a major cause of road accidents around the country. It was a factor in 16 per cent of serious road crashes resulting in a hospital visit in Australia in 2022.

So stay safe!