Do you drive in flip flops?

It is legal - but if you cause a crash and the police conclude that it was caused by your footwear, your insurers could still refuse to pay. It's technically classed as negligence. Just the same as if you're distracted because you're fiddling with the radio or looking for something you've dropped in the footwell.

Yes but I could also be charged with careless driving if I was distracted by my loud radio. That’s my point, people cause accidents every day. Flip flops really aren’t the drama people like to make it out. Every summer this urban myth about them being illegal to drive in gets trotted out and people get more and more wedded to it.

You could still be charged by the police with careless driving. Would insurance pay out then?

But you would be driving legally. It’s legal to drive in flip flops.

yes I do.Never even thought about it TBH

So despite knowing better, you continue to endanger others. You are a treasure for sure.

You have to be driving legally to be covered by insurance.

So if you have an accident, the police are involved and they write a report saying you lost control of your car due to your footwear, your insurers can refuse to pay out.

I've never been asked but then I've never had an accident involving the police.

What terms of your policy would you be breaking by wearing flip flops?

have you ever been asked what you were wearing when you have claimed for a car accident?

It's not just if you're prosecuted at all.

If you have an accident and are found to be breaking the terms of your policy at the time (for example, if you have a black box but it wasn't recording at the time), then your insurers have the right to cancel your policy (or even void it, which is worse). They have to cover the third party costs but they can also come after you in court.

You don't need to have been convicted of dangerous driving for it to happen, either.

But that’s if you’re prosecuted. That is different to just “someone’s insurance company refused to pay out because she was wearing flip flops”

Yes indeed. I would be so interested to know how many flip flop wearers were prosecuted for dangerous driving last year but I take your point about drunk driving etc

That's not what I mean.

I mean that if you have an accident and are found to be breaking the terms of your policy (or the law) you often can't claim for damage for your own vehicle (even if you do pay the excess). They will cancel your policy, pay for any third party damage and are then able to come after you in court for the costs.

I do. They are crocs flip flops so they're a bit more fitted to my feet than a pair of primark basics.

I don't understand how anyone can drive in bare feet!

This isn't strictly true. If you're drunk (for example) when driving and have an accident, they'll pay for third-party damages but not for damage to your car. The same often applies if you're convicted of dangerous driving or speeding.

But that’s common place- I caused an accident on a roundabout a few years ago and didn’t claim for my own car because I would have to pay the excess.

but had I paid the excess they would’ve paid out. That’s what insurance is for, unless you have only purchased third party fire and theft insurance (if that’s even a thing nowadays)

I think people are being somewhat dramatic about this. People are at fault for accidents every single day. Obviously insurance still pays out for an accident you’ve caused. They just don’t pay out for the ones someone else caused 😆

Maybe PP means they wouldn't pay out for the damage to the drivers' car as she was driving dangerously at the time of the accident.

Insurers have to pay third-party damages but they can also claim those back from the driver in some circumstances.

I always drive in bare feet if im wearing slip on sandals.
I believe that the law is that you must be in full control of the vehicle. Thus if a flip flop slips off or gets caught and you have an accident you would be at fault. No idea whether there would be insurance implications.

I used to drive in Birkenstocks until a conversation with someone about this. Since then, I change my shoes rather than driving in flip flops or flimsy sandals. I do drive in my Dr Martens sandals but they are more sturdy and fit securely to my feet.

What do you mean they wouldn’t pay out? They have to pay out. You reckon they just told the beauticians to suck up their smashed up shop window?!

to answer the question I have occasionally driven in flip flops but if I was wearing them and had nothing to change into I’d rather drive barefoot, which I really like doing.

i do but live in them so used to driving in thek etc, i actually find ugg boots awful to drive in, so i judge if i feel safe driving in the foot wear i am wearing and have old trainers in car just incase

It takes a bit of getting used to but it feels fine once you are.

It is a very silly thing to do, to drive in flip-flops.

According to Rule 97 of the Highway Code, your footwear must not prevent you from using the vehicle's controls in the correct manner. Because flip-flops can easily slip off, get stuck under pedals, or lack the grip needed for emergency braking, they can compromise your control of the vehicle.

If your footwear contributes to an accident or you lose control of the car, police can prosecute you for careless or dangerous driving, which can result in a £100 on-the-spot fine, up to 9 penalty points, and up to a £5,000 fine if the case goes to court.

I wear flip flops all summer , and drive in them too. My feet get way too hot otherwise.