Did you know that it's possible to outrun a speed camera? Or that, if you drive a hire car, you can avoid a parking fine? Like every good myth, they sound just about plausible. Get ready for disappointment though - here are the top motoring myths of our time.

1. They say Men are better drivers than women Sorry, guys. You may think you can drive a car like Michael Schumacher but, on every measure, women are better drivers. Women are involved in fewer accidents, commit fewer motoring offences and are more likely to pass their driving test at the first attempt. As a result, most women benefit by paying lower insurance premiums. I think it's because always drive not women.
    
2. Traffic cops play `speed snooker' Here's how this Pot Black inspired myth goes. When police officers monitor speed traps, they target colours in turn: first a red car, then a blue maybe, back to a red and so on. As a result, drivers of red cars are more likely to be stopped for speeding. Fortunately for red car drivers, there's never been any evidence found that these antics take place.
    
3. Traffic cops launch a missile Two traffic cops were monitoring speeding cars with hand-held radar guns. Suddenly they clocked an object approaching at 300 mph. By chance, they had locked their guns onto an over-flying military aircraft and launched one of its missiles. For a number of scientific and operational reasons, this is impossible.
    
4. Avoid paying your fine Have you heard the one about the double-bluff way to avoid points on your license? If you send a cheque for more than the amount of the fine, the issuing authority has to refund the difference. If you don't cash the cheque they send back, they can't add the points to your license because the full transaction isn't complete. Because of their heavy workload pressures, they don't pursue the matter, so you avoid the penalty. This is of course wrong; your licence would be endorsed regardless, and failure to pay a fine can lead to more serious trouble.
    
5. You can outrun a speed camera In theory, you could outrun a speed camera by driving at more than 172mph. However, few cars are capable of such speeds and anyone daft enough to try deserves to lose their licence.
    
6. You can't get in trouble for driving too slowly Not true. A number of people have been stopped and charged for driving too slowly. If a police officer thinks your driving is putting others at risk - by encouraging risky overtaking, say - you can be booked.
    
7. Reflective number plates can beat speed cameras The myth says that a certain type of reflective number plate is impossible to photograph, enabling offenders to avoid speed camera photos. Tests have shown that no known number plate can do such a thing.
    
8. You can't be booked if caught speeding in a hire car Again, not true. If you're caught on camera, the hire company will pass your details onto the police for them to deal with you directly. The same applies if you pick up a parking ticket while driving a hire car.
    
9. A police officer must be wearing a hat to book you It may have been true once, but no longer. So long as a police officer is recognisable as such, you can be booked.
    
10. No claims losses Some people believe that, if you make an insurance claim, you lose your entire no-claims bonus. This is not true. Most insurers will reduce your no- claims bonus by a proportion. For example, if you have seven years no- claims and then make a claim you usually lose only two years.
     
11. You'll automatically fail your driving test if you stall the car Not true. The test examiner is assessing your ability to drive safely, complete certain manoeuvres and demonstrate that you understand the Highway Code. As long as you correctly handle the car once it's stalled, you should be ok.