As the temperature rises across the country, motorists are being cautioned against wearing a particular type of footwear while driving.
Rule 97 of the Highway Code stipulates that drivers must ensure their shoes do not impede their ability to safely and effectively use vehicle controls.
This means that wearing flip-flops, sandals, or sliders could land you with a fine of up to £100 if your choice of footwear contributes to hazardous driving, or even more if the matter goes to court.
To avoid shoes slipping off while driving, it’s recommended that drivers wear footwear that is securely fastened to their feet with laces or Velcro.
The Highway Code states: “Before setting off: You must ensure that clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner.
“In the event of an accident or if stopped by police drivers found to be wearing inappropriate shoes risk an on-the-spot fine of £100…”
Drivers found to be wearing unsuitable shoes during an accident or when stopped by police risk an immediate fine of £100 for “driving without due care and attention”, along with three penalty points on their licence.
If the case is taken to court, penalties can soar to fines of up to £5,000 and nine points.
One motorist confessed on Reddit: “I typically drive with sandals in the summer. A friend of mine said the open toe could get caught in the brakes or has. I’ve never had it happened to me.
“I even tried to get my sandals caught on the brake or gas on purpose and realise I can just pull it out. Is this an actual safety concern or is my friend just worries too much?”
In response, one user said: “I personally don’t find sandals comfortable at all so I just stick to sneakers.”
Another user added: “I don’t love driving a manual in sandals. Too much foot moving around.”
A third user said: “Just drive safely and be conscious of what you’re doing which everyone should be doing anyways.”
One more user added: “Open toes aren’t the problem, it’s the shoe sliding off and either getting it wedged between pedals or having to fiddle with it.”
Clearing up the rules, a RAC statement reads: “You can get behind the wheel of a vehicle barefoot or while wearing flip flops, provided you are able to operate the controls safely.
“If you do so with wet feet, for example, you might be putting yourself, your passengers and other road users at risk by not being able to drive the car safely. This is illegal. And while it’s not illegal to drive without shoes on, that doesn’t mean it’s right.
“According to the Driving Standards Agency – the body that regulates the UK driving test – ‘suitable shoes are particularly important behind the wheel. We would not recommend driving barefoot because you don’t have the same braking force with bare feet as you do with shoes on’.”
