You are driving to work, and suddenly, a bakkie swerves in front of you. Swiftly your right foot reaches for the brake pedal. Unfortunately, the shoes you’re wearing cause your foot to slip off the pedal, causing you to narrowly miss crashing into the other vehicle.
A recent survey showed that only a few drivers consider wearing the correct shoes, and instead prefer to use fashionable shoes. Read further about the risks of wearing unsuitable footwear while driving and what you should do about it.1
What Does The Law Say About Footwear?
Countries rarely define what kind of footwear drivers should wear. This also applies to South Africa, where the law does not rule out high-heeled shoes, flip flops, or bare feet. So, as drivers, we should alert other motorists about the dangers of incorrect or no footwear. 1
What Must Your Feet Be Able To Do When Driving?
You should be able to feel the required pressure when clutching, braking, or accelerating. Our footwear should always help us to complete these actions. You won’t know how much pressure to apply if your feet can’t feel the pedals properly. 1
Do You Need To Change Your Footwear?
If your shoes are too broad and large, you could press the brake pedal and accelerator simultaneously, with some serious consequences. 1
Driving Long Distances
Unless you are using speed control, keeping your foot on the accelerator for hours can strain it and your ankle significantly. Wearing the correct type of shoes will relax your feet and allow you to control the car effectively in any situation. 1
Let’s examine different footwear scenarios.
Is It Safe To Drive Barefoot?
If you had to choose between flip-flops, high heels and bare feet, the latter would be the safest when driving. Some drivers enjoy driving barefoot because they experience a more direct contact with the car. 1
Any Disadvantages Of Driving Barefoot?
Before driving without shoes, make sure your feet are not too sensitive. If you had to slam on the brakes suddenly, would it be too painful? This could be because the small pedal exerts too much pressure on the sole of your bare foot. Contrast this with the even distribution of pressure on a broader shoe sole. Overusing your bare ‘clutch’ foot may cause it to cramp. 1
What If I Am Wearing Nylon Stockings Covering Bare Feet?
Stockings could cause your feet to slip off the pedals because of a reduced grip. 1
Flip-Flops Are The Most Dangerous
A UK survey showed that driving with flip-flops poses the highest risk, even when compared with high-heeled shoes. This is because they come off so easily and could land under a pedal. 1
Driving With High-Heeled Shoes Or Platform Shoes
For safe driving, the heel of your foot must be on the floor to provide the proper pressure on the brake pedal and accelerator. High-heeled shoes are dangerous because they prevent the heel of your foot from resting on the floor. The sharp heel of a high-heeled shoe can also get hooked on a floor mat.
Thick platform wedge shoes are worse than high-heeled shoes because they have thick soles and high heels. Shoes used for driving should not have thicker than 10mm soles. Shoe soles thicker than this could prevent your feet from properly feeling the pedals regarding how much pressure you use to adjust the pedals with your feet.1,2,3
Disclaimer
This article’s aim is to show you how to drive safely by wearing the correct footwear. The shoes you use for the gym, for walking or running, are ideal for driving. 1,2
It’s important to be safety conscious by using appropriate footwear when driving. It’s equally important to protect yourself financially by having excellent car insurance. We at PMD can share world-class client service by showing you our affordable car insurance products. They have unique benefits, such as fixed premiums* and a reduce-to-zero excess*. T’s and C’s apply.
Consult a certified financial advisor for professional advice before buying a financial services product.
Source:
1https://www.arrivealive.co.za/feet-footwear-and-safe-driving
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.