More weird driving superstitions in honor of Friday the 13th

Happy Friday the 13th! In honor of the spooky holiday, today we’re talking even more weird driving superstitions that some car owners have. Let’s jump into it!

#1: You should scratch your new car on purpose. Some drivers believe that when you get a new car, you should purposely scratch it yourself and this will ward off car accidents, collisions, and the car getting scratched otherwise. We can’t say if it works or not, but if you feel the need to scratch your new car (which we don’t), be sure to do it in a place that’s out of sight.

#2: Don’t wash off bird poop right away. It’s also a driving superstition that if a bird poops on your car, you shouldn’t wash it off right away. Why? Bird poop is good luck and can help keep you AND your car safe out on the road. Our thoughts? Gross, and it could damage your paint, so don’t leave it on TOO long if you feel the need to keep it there for a while.

#3: Honk before you enter a tunnel. Some drivers believe that you should honk before you enter a tunnel – it’ll ward off evil spirits that could cause you to crash. Our take? If you must, you must – just try not to confuse other drivers when you do it.

#4: Hide your thumb if you pass a funeral procession. This driving superstition comes from Japan. It’s believed there that the spirits of the dead hang around their caskets for a while and if you pass an evil one lingering around a funeral procession, it could enter your body and possess you by sneaking in under your thumbnail. So if you pass a funeral procession, you should hide your thumbs from it. We say as long as you keep your hands on the wheel, have at it.

#5: Don’t talk about selling your car while you’re sitting inside of it. In Russia, it’s unlucky to discuss selling your car while you’re sitting inside the cabin. Supposedly the car will “hear” you and become resentful, and things will start to break and malfunction before you can get rid of it. We get it; we’d be resentful, too.

#6: Hang something to ward off evil. A lot of drivers hang some sort of lucky charm or religious emblem inside of their car to help ward off evil and keep them and their vehicle safe when out on the road. We say whether it’s a rosary or a rabbit’s foot, go for it.

#7: Crush lemons under the wheels of your car. In India, it’s thought that if you crush lemons under the wheels of your new car it will help to protect you from car accidents in the future. We say why not? Just clean up your mess afterward.

#8: Be extra careful on Friday the 13th. Some drivers are so superstitious that they won’t even take their cars out of the garage on Friday the 13th, considering it too unlucky of a day to even drive. In our opinion, just be careful and practice defensive driving like you would any other day of the year!

Have questions about these weird driving superstitions or looking for a new ride to crush some lemons under? Call us! Toyota of Orlando is open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500, and we’re conveniently located just off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall.

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