BOY-RACERS might want to take note as a traffic cop has revealed the truth behind some of the most common motoring myths.

Over the years Sergeant Lee Hill has seen it all while policing the roads of South Cumbria.

Rural roads, lack of street lighting and geographical isolation mean that hazards in our county are around every bend and Sgt Hill is keen to educate drivers after some were seen speeding past one of his colleagues who had stopped to help a stranded motorist at the side of the Dalton bypass.

"Unless you've been stood on the hard shoulder at the side of the motorway you don't realise how scary it is," Sgt Hill, from Windermere, said.

"Drivers should always be looking ahead of them in the distance, then coming back to their car, and if they see something ahead they should start reducing their speed well in advance."

Speaking to The Mail, Sgt Hill also debunked some common motoring myths including neon headlights, where you can position screws on a registration plate and when you are, and are not, allowed to overtake.

"LEDs on windscreen washer jets are fine but they can't be used to change the colour of a positional light - the headlights, indicators, as these are only allowed to be white or yellow," he explained.

Some car owners, particularly those with private registration plates, position screws to make certain characters appear different, for example placing a screw in the middle of a zero to give the appearance of an eight or letter B.

"The DVLA are very specific about the size and font used on reg plates and moving a screw to make something look like a different letter contravenes that," Sgt Hill said.

"If we pull over someone who has done that, they'll get a fine and we report them to the DVLA, and if they've been reported for similar offences in the past the DVLA can withdraw that plate from circulation."

Many motorists moan about the lack of awareness of the speed limit on the A590. The maximum varies along the A road but on sections of dual carriageway the limit is always 70mph and on most other stretches between Ulverston and Levens it is 60mph.

Sgt Hill explained when you can, and cannot, overtake.

"It can be frustrating when someone in front of you is driving below the limit but you're allowed to overtake anywhere, other than where there is a solid white line, as long as you don't exceed the speed limit and you don't come into conflict with another vehicle," he said.

"So if someone's going at 40mph or 50mph and you know the limit is 60mph then you can overtake.

"You're only allowed to cross a solid white line in an emergency, if you're turning right or if you need to pass a vehicle which is going less than 10mph."