Summer warning as drivers face fine for wearing wrong shoes behind the wheel

05 June 2023 , 21:02

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Drivers wearing flip flops face a £100 fine (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Motorists have been warned over their footwear as wearing flip flops while driving could land them a £100 fine.

Rule 97 of the highway code states that you must have footwear that "does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner" in order to drive.

This means driving in flip flops could land you a whopping fine if you were involved in some sort of bother like a crash and police found you weren't in proper control of the vehicle

It means that if your footwear restricts your movement and if you are found to be driving dangerously, or involved in an accident as a result of this, you could be charged, and facing a £100 on the spot fine, as well as three points added to your licence.

Louise Thomas, Confused.com motor insurance expert, said on the news: “It can be confusing to know the rules when it comes to driving in the correct clothing and footwear.

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And with the weather warming up, and many switching to their summer wardrobe, it’s important to know how this could impact your driving.

“If your clothing or footwear restricts your movement you could find that it impacts your driving.

If you are found to be driving dangerously, or involved in an accident as a result of this, you could be charged, and facing a £100 on the spot fine, and 3 points added to your licence.

“There isn’t a law which explicitly states that you can’t wear jeans, skirts or flip flops behind the wheel.

But you should always make sure you’re in full control of your vehicle at all times, and what you’re wearing could impact this.

“That’s why it’s important to be aware of all the smaller driving rules you may not know. Our guide to driving law myths will help you to stay on top of these rules and avoid risking any fines.”

Guidelines on what footwear motorists are advised to drive in has been produced by RAC, who said the following rules should be followed when it comes to driving footwear.

Your shoes should:

• Have a sole no thicker than 10mm
• The sole should not be too thin or soft
• Provide enough grip to stop your foot slipping off the pedals

• Not be too heavy

• Be narrow enough to avoid accidentally depressing two pedals at once

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• Not limit ankle movement

Megan Banner