Driving in flip flops or sandals could land drivers with £5k fine and driving ban

As Brits dig out their summer wardrobes, the RAC has issued a stern warning for those thinking of driving in their seasonal foot ware. 

While getting behind the wheel flip flop-clad isn’t technically against the law – research has found a massive 39% of people choose to wear them while driving – a section of the Highway Code could make a driver’s choice in foot ware a criminal offence.

According to Rule 97, drivers must be wearing footwear and clothing that ‘does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner’.

And if a driver is in an accident and the police see that they are wearing flip flops – or no shoes at all – they may be found to be ‘driving without due care and attention’, an offence that can carry with it a £100 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points.

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If this gets taken to court, the maximum penalty could rise to as high as a £5,000 fine, nine penalty points and potentially a driving ban.

So, to help drivers avoid getting themselves into this expensive pickle, the RAC has compiled together a list of what footwear they should and shouldn’t be wearing while driving their vehicles. 

Read More: Elderly motorist who’s been driving without a licence for 72 years pulled over by police

According to the RAC, 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 limit ankle movement.

• Not be too heavy.

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

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The RAC states: “While light, flimsy and impractical footwear can be dangerous, so can sturdy, robust shoes, such as walking or snow boots.

“It’s important to have a good base and grip to apply pressure to the pedals, but you need a certain degree of finesse to manipulate the controls.

“If not, you could strike the brake and accelerator together, producing a heart-in-mouth incident.”

For more information, visit the RAC website.