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Anyone know the law wife thinks its illegal I just think it pretty stupid but not illegal. She also thinks driving in bare feet is illegal as well
Why is it stupid?
i don't think it is specifically illegal, but i think if the police pull you over you could be deemed to not being in full control of the car. Also know someone who managed to get a flip flop jammed under the accelarator, luckily it was on a Motorway and they had enough time to get it unstuck, in an urban situation they may not have been so lucky.
Why is it stupid?
if you have to ask, should you really br driving?
Legally, not it isn;t illegal, apparently
Bloody stupid, yes, but not illegal
Driving in bare feet is illegal in Scotland.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/9784/Shoes+driving+us+to+distraction
Although it might not be specificly illegal in England & Wales, I reckon you could probably get done for it - not driving in a safe manner/whatever
i find driving in bare feet better than a lot of shoes to be honest. Flip flops a big no no though.
The problem is they're not secure on your feet, they can get caught in the pedals causing loss of control, and bare feet stop you from applying full pressure to the pedals.
On the rare occasions that I have an excuse to wear flip-flops I find it tricky, and thereby very annoying, to drive a car in them, so try to avoid it. Even riding a bike in them's a bit of a bugger, as is running.
If I forget to change into more sensible shoes then I just drive barefoot, which isn't so bad.
From experience, I can see why the lack of 'bond' betwixt foot and flip-flop can lead to reduced control over pedals, causing concern for safe driving practices, but 'illegal'? Never heard of that before.
Also, given my good fortune in being able to visit hotter climates in my lifetime, where many more people wear such footwear and drive daily, surely they manage without legislative intervention as I've never heard of it being outlawed elsewhere.
I used to drive everywhere in America in bare feet, flip-flops were uncomfortable and I promise you that it's still possible to stamp on the brake if needed.
What about spd shoes?
Lots of women drive bare footed as they may have been wearing high heels, claiming it stops you apply full pressure pedals is daft no reason why it should.
law does not mention 'flip flops'
i think it's phrased as 'appropriate footwear' i assume that it's up for a copper to make an interpretation on this and a judge to make a decision.
driving barefoot gives me a weird pain - so i've stopped. spd shoes ok to drive in.
flipflops and spds ok for me
My driving instructor suggested i drive without shoes because i couldn't feel the bite point of the clutch.
claiming it stops you apply full pressure pedals is daft no reason why it should.
Unless you pick up a sharp object (small stone, piece of glass, thorn etc) onto the sole of your foot. No such risk if you're wearing shoes.
[i]Unless you pick up a sharp object (small stone, piece of glass, thorn etc) onto the sole of your foot.[/i]
Where would you get that from?
Where would you get that from?
You haven't seen the footwell of my van, have you?
>Unless you pick up a sharp object (small stone, piece of glass, thorn etc) onto the sole of your foot. No such risk if you're wearing shoes.
Never had a stone, piece of glass, thorn etc get into your shoes ?
Well if it is I'm an outlaw. You can flame me all you like, but they don't fall off my feet, and I don't really see the problem.
Never had a stone, piece of glass, thorn etc get into your shoes ?
No, not whilst driving. Have you ?
Never had a stone, piece of glass, thorn etc get stuck on my foot when I've taken my shoes off in the car.
Never crashed your car either I take it - as a result of not having any shoes on ?
Excellent. And I have never had a crash during all the countless times I've driven without a seatbelt.
The law is bollox ain't it ?
I keep a pair of clogs in my car for such eventualities. If i get caught out in a blizzard, i can then use them for firewood.
And I have never had a crash during all the countless times I've driven without a seatbelt.
Wow. I'm amazed you've managed that despite how seatbelts prevent you having crashes.
i assume that it's up for a copper to make an interpretation on this and a judge to make a decision.
That's how I would assume they would apply the law.
I believe that theory is that seatbelts are effective in the event of a crash aracer. Since I have never had a crash in which a seatbelt would be useful, I have come to the conclusion that the seatbelt law is both pointless and complete bollox.
I can say for certain it is not Illigal.
and since when was the law quoted from the mirror or the express?
Ah, but do you know of people who seatbelts have saved, or are you aware of such people existing?
Have you ever heard of anybody having a crash because they weren't wearing shoes?
however i would always wear shoes to drive paulosoxo's van.
Maybe ernie should cut off his seatbelts and make them into a small bag for automotive oddments
A family friend embarrasingly ran into the back of my mother in law. He was driving in flip-flops & it got trapped under the gas pedal & he couldn't brake. Fortunately only 15mph in traffic, but his Imprezza needed a whole new front end. Mums Yaris had barley a scratch!
claiming it stops you apply full pressure pedals is daft no reason why it should.
try it.
An excellent idea Spongebob 8)
I am btw the proud owner of a car which due to it's age, has no legal requirement to be fitted with seatbelts.
....it frightens the **** out of me driving it on motorways though 😯
I've driven in ski boots. That's quite unnerving and I don't think I'll be rushing to do it again.
Drive in bare feet and also flipflops a lot in Oz. Can't see any problem. Maybe we're more used to it here.
Where do we stand on sandals ?
😉
[i]try it. [/i]
Done loads of times and never hurt a single bit.
Drive in bare feet and also flipflops a lot in Oz. ........ Maybe we're more used to it here.
And yet it would appear that you may not be legally insured if you wear thongs (flip flops) whilst driving in Australia. According to the Darren Davis School of Motoring in Australia :
[i]"You must not wear shoes that are loose around the heel part of your foot. It could get stuck under your foot or pedal. There is also an insurance issue. If you have an accident and the Police spot that your footwear is not appropriate, your insurance could be voided."[/i]
http://www.bestdrivers.com.au/html/faqsl.htm
Same as epicyclo. Drive around lots in barefeet and flip flops (thongs over here). I have never had a problem with it. Majority of people here do it. Might be a little different down in Victoria or Tassie where it's cooler.
Anyway, the British summer is never long enough or hot enough for flip flops 😆
Since when has lots of people doing something been a mature or intelligent justification for joining them 🙄
flip flops, snowboard boots, wellies, football boots, spuds - all OK for me 8)
Well James, since I am mature enough to decide that it is safe for me to do it, unlike yourself who seems to be immature enough to criticise my decision 😛
Since when has criticising been immature? I was actually questioning your justification - which is plain for everyone to see.
Unfortunately, it's not just you that you are making descisions for though is it? What about the other potential victims of your actions?
Anyway, the wife (an aussie) says it is illegal in Oz and lets face it, wives know everything!
Edit: she still does it though
Well now I'm convinced that it is unsafe to drive in flip flops! 🙄
Just as well that my commute is by bike and train, all of my potential victims can sleep well tonight 😆
Your family included, even if they aren't in the car with you at the time.
Heres an interesting thing: the all-knowing wife reckons the main reason for no thongs while driving in Oz is protecting your feet from spiders etc.
I actually heard that a lot of car crashes over here are caused from Huntsman spiders. Apparently they like to hide in narrow places like the gap between the sun visor and roof. Then the driver lowers the visor, the spider falls out, and scares the hell out of the drivers! Anyway, thongs or flip flops make excellent spider killers 😈
I believe it is illegal to drive barefoot in the UK, but I doubt you'd get done for it. I used to have a Fiat Panda, which had very light actioned pedals, and for long journeys I normally took my shoes off because it meant I could relax my feet rather than 'holding them back' off the pedals all the time. Once you get used to it, it's fine. These days in the summer I live in flip flops and sandals and it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference. I used to drive vans and landroves a lot in boots and wellies too, which takes some getting used to at first. The worst thing I have driven in was my Spesh BG Sport SPD shoes. The hard sole with the big gaps in it gets caught on the pedals. Only done it once, never again.....
After a long ride I am very happy to pop my shoes off & drive home with some air round my feet.
I used to drive cars competitively and the ultra thin shoes worn for that are really nothing more than 5 mm of soft rubber & a fireproof fabric. If the boys in F1 / WRC can manage to control their cars with this completely unsupportive footwear I think I'll be just fine in bare feet.
Flip flops on the other hand (or my Birkenstocks) do feel a little scary underfoot. Personally not something I'd think was a good idea but maybe other people feel more secure in their flip flops...
I tried driving my car in my moto-x boots once (just briefly) and it is not to be recommended.... Similar issues to the ski boot experiences I imagine
Why are professional racing shoes thin-soled with no heel?
Driving like a **** is illegal everywhere.
It is illegal to drive in barefeet. This was discussed on Pistonheads and its if a stone gets inbetween the pedal and the ball of your foot you will struggle to execute an emergency stop.
Now, if I'm faced with hitting someone at any speed- NO stone no matter how big is going to stop me stamping hard on that pedal. Its not as though you are walking barefoot in a small pool is it. If you were being chased by a bear you'd fuggin run Olympic-style through the same pond. Anyway. barefoot offers more feel/control for me...but if theres ever an accident you've got to understand that the Emergency services or other may point towards a lack of control on your part (and call you a lier) I bet.
This is too much. I actually toyed with starting this exact thread a couple of weeks ago......as a piss-take. Decided against it as I thought was too obviously a troll.
So where do we stand on jumping red lights?
I'm shocked by this I drive barefoot often, if I have walking boots/spd's on I slip them off seems much safer to me.
anagallis_arvensis - I moved the car in my spd's 10m's in a carpark last week. Didnt feel safe at all! Plus unless you have excessively sweaty feet I dont see the problem having a better feel of what the car is doing with bare feet.
People who claim that it's illegal to drive bare footed, could you point me to the relevant bit of legislation.
Its not 'illegal'. The law only states appropriate footwear/control?
I'm saying at the scene of an accident the prosecution could imply that maybe theres a doubt that you werent in total control of the vehicle.
Its a very grey area. I want to know the definitive answer as I cant drive in 99% of shoes (only comfortable in Goodyear Puma's or similar.
I'm saying at the scene of an accident the prosecution could imply that maybe theres a doubt that you werent in total control of the vehicle.
They could say that, however for it to make a difference they'd have to prove it.
Ambigious: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069855
[i]clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner [/i]
I asked the traffic boys at the station about driving in bare feet. Their basic take on it was that if your in proper control of the vehicle, it wasn't a big issue to them. Flips and things like that, they may take issue to, but not barefeet.
Ahh. Looks like I was wrong. Barefoot driving isn't specifically illegal in the UK. I thought I read years ago that it was. Sorry.
No reason why it should be that I can see anyway.
🙂
[i]Why are professional racing shoes thin-soled with no heel? [/i]
I don't know going off that why aren't we allowed to do 200mph on public roads when racing drivers are allowed to?
Lots of women drive bare footed as they may have been wearing high heels, claiming it stops you apply full pressure pedals is daft no reason why it should. Totally depends on the car
Totally depends on the car and it's level of servo assistance. I have driven bare footed loads of times, despite not being supposed to, but I fairly regularly walk around on rocks bare-footed at the beach and my daily driver has over-servo'd brakes so it's not a problem to emergency stop for me. In my other car where the brakes are significantly less assisted, or in older cars where there is no assistance, a girly girl driving bare footed trying to get the car to stop would undoubtedly squeal with the pain of stamping on a 1" wide metal pedal in delicate bare feet.
As for flip flops - they're not exactly secure, but they do seem to stick to some peoples feet fairly well. I was never someone who got on with them, they always fall off and rattle around, it'd be stupid for me to drive in them.
The Highway Code is just that, a code of conduct. It is not the law. It advises good practice.
The law is the Road Traffic Act, hence why in hora's link those parts of the highway code which refer to the law have the appropriate sections of the RTA referenced.
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the self righteous will conform to 'rules' and 'laws' they clearly have no understanding of.
Why are professional racing shoes thin-soled with no heel?
Because race car pedals are usually wide and flat (unlike a lot of cars, particularly older ones) and heel-less to allow heel-toe action smoothly. Good question though, from the few rally training sessions I've done that using the brakes to their full potential even with trainers on can leave you with bruised feet!
JacksonPollock - not conforming to the code of conduct shows disregard for safety and as such could be considered driving below the standard expected...even if there is no RTA regulation covering the specific item so you need to be careful. If the police think it's dangerous you'll be had for /something/. It is expected that you follow the HWC.
Yes I agree, it could be deemed dangerous...but its not illegal to drive barefoot (or in flip flops for that matter).
The op and some answers on here are symptomatic of our overzealous culture.
JacksonPollock I'm struggling to find relevant and pertinent links. Its a grey area and open to dispute IMO.
Raceshoes are designed for feel. Heel pivot without a heel to complicate the arc amongst other reasons. Its pertinent for road use IMO regardless of speed. You wouldnt drive with woolly gloves on would you- it offers you feel/feedback. All IMO.
The only true arguments I can see for wearing shoes in a roadcar are Grip (but then the soles of your shes may be wet) and crash intrusion. Your shoes offer you *slightly* more protection to your feet. Although its doubtful really how much.
[i]a girly girl driving bare footed trying to get the car to stop would undoubtedly squeal with the pain of stamping on a 1" wide metal pedal in delicate bare feet.[/i]
Why your point is fairly valid for such cars women tend to have tougher feet because of the silly shoes they wear. Generally a vast majority of cars aren't going to cause the problem you suggested we can of course spend ages looking for exceptions like "oooh you might get a splinter or a wasp might land on the pedals."
It is not specifically illegal to drive in bare feet anywhere in the UK. ****ing stupid though.
I have no issue with the debate over what footcovering is best for driving in. Its the statements re; legality/best practice, asserted as fact that holds me in disbelief!
I still get funny comments/looks from everyone about my feet who gets in my car. Like its a strange novelty although they've seen me do this soo many times. To people who dont drive barefoot or socks I guess it is very wierd. Great in summer tho!
i drive in a tequila haze - which is more like a flop flip. is that illegal or just fun?
If the police think it's dangerous you'll be had for /something/.
Given the way the law works in this country they'd have to prove it was dangerous, rather than it just being their opinion though. If you break a specific law it's all rather more straightforward.
You wouldnt drive with woolly gloves on would you
Probably not wooly ones as they're too slippery - I've certainly driven with gloves (winter cycling or skiing ones) though. It's not like you need to be able to feel the texture of the steering wheel!
I know but its an additional layer removed from the (oh gawd Im about to talk bollocks about steering/driving/feel etc!)
Just an hour or so ago, myself & a colleague were casting a critical eye over an eastern European lorry driver outside our office window. He was helping unload 2tonne bundles of brass bars...& he was wearing flip flops!!!
Flip flops-good for showers or the pool.
Wear in public and look a fool.
I'd rather look a fool and not be in pain when on the way back from an event with blisters on my heels.
I did try driving in just my socks, no shoes once. I found it so uncomfortable, the pressure of a small area on the ball of my foot was such that I stopped after a couple of miles and put my shoes back on.
Countzero- its not for everyone. Just like driving with thick shoes on feels very odd to me I can very well see driving without shoes can be very odd to others. 🙂
so the umbrella I use to prop against the accelerator on long journeys should be wearing shoes?