Do you drive in flip flops?

Barefoot isn't a good idea because you can't do an emergency stop as effectively if not wearing shoes.

Flip flops are a safety risk as they can come off and get stuck under a pedal.

I'm amazed that so many people drive barefoot, when I've ever done it on our driveway it's felt so uncomfortable and I don't feel like I have full control of the car. Maybe my feet are too narrow or weak.

Not after I got one caught on a pedal. I've got a pair of slip on Converse-alike that I leave in the boot for driving.

I do remember a farmer friend being told off by a policeman years ago, that he shouldn't wear wellington boots to drive in. I am not surprised, I have tried it just to move a car on our own driveway and found it almost uncomfortable!

I drive in flip flops all the time, because it's what I wear most of the time. They're not flimsy flip flops, but supportive Clarks ones. I live in Florida and have never heard of anyone saying you should have specific footwear to drive in!

I don't drive in flipflops or Birkenstock style as, like others, it is too easy to get them caught in the pedals. However, that means a lot of the summer I drive in bare feet and I challenge anyone to prove that it's more dangerous than eg ballet shoes. I can put just as much pressure on the pedals, and in fact have more direct feedback from them without the hard sole being between ("feetback"?) I have never had sweaty feet to make them slip.

@mumofoneisonozempic have you ever done an emergency stop in bare feet? The sort of emergency stop that requires slamming on the brakes when you’re doing something like 30mph?

I don't drive in anything backless, as I worry my feet will slip. On one occasion where I had to drive a friend's car unexpectedly, I rather drove barefoot. It felt safer to me (whether it was or not!)

I only drive barefoot and have my crocs for when I have to get out of the car

No. I was absolutely convinced it's illegal to drive in flip-flops in Spain, but apparently not. It is illegal in Italy.

And you can be fined in many countries if it's found that wearing flip-flops contributed to an accident.

I also don't drive in certain trainers and boots with either a stiff or thick sole, because I can't feel the pedals as easily. It's so easy to just put on a pair of trainers.

I don’t drive in flip flops because I always believed it was illegal and unsafe.
The thought of driving bare foot also seems quite scandalous to me 😂
I tend to drive in trainers and will change to my Birkenstocks or pumps when I arrive.

I don’t really get the logic of “only for short journeys”. A very close relative of mine popped out to get petrol, just a little local routine trip, and was killed in a car accident in a 30mph zone a mile and a half from home. His life ended and ours changed forever while nipping out for the most mundane of purposes. No bad footwear involved, drink driving on the part of the other driver, but the minute you’re behind the wheel the potential for accident exists and flip flops and bare feet are no less risky a mile from home as they are 100 miles from home surely?

I guess what happened in my family is why I am very risk averse and why I can never say ‘it will never happen to me’ because it can and does happen. No one can control what happens but why not do whatever has been distilled as best practice to try and ensure you don’t kill yourself or other people?

I do, because I just don't think to change them, but it is very dangerous. I know someone who crashed their car because their flip flop got trapped somehow, and they didn't survive. When it happend, we all who knew her made a big effort not to anymore, but I for one have definitely slipped back in to bad habits.

I wouldn’t drive in anything backless that could potentially come off my foot and go under the pedals or create a distraction trying to retrieve it. I also wouldn’t drive barefoot in case of emergency braking.

At the other end of the scale I wouldn’t drive in Uggs or bulky, wide shoes that potentially catch on two pedals and prevent being able to feel the pedals. Last winter some woman went into the back of my car wearing Uggs, she basically hit the accelerator instead of the brake. I was almost shunted into a police car in front of me. They had a real go at her about her footwear.

It’s pretty easy to keep a dedicated pair of driving shoes in the car 🤷‍♀️

Like you I’m wary of wearing flip flops for driving and can’t bear driving in bare feet so I wear shoes for driving but will change back into my sandals at my destination: maybe the people you saw did that?

This thread is such a great example of survivor bias.

Yes. I live in flip flops/sandles half the year. Its never crossed my mind not to drive in them. I wouldn't drive barefoot though...

Snort, if it was illegal to drive barefoot or in thongs in Australia at least 90% of the population would be fucked.

Used to.. no problems at all.. now I don't wear flipflops anymore..
It's not illegal but you can be procecuted if police feel the flipflops contributed to the accident..
And living in Cornwall flipflops are national dress almost!

no, but then I wouldn't go out wearing flipflops either! They're very much a pottering around the resort on holiday or garden in the summer footwear, I can't walk any distance in them.

I've had a pedal get stuck in a sandal that had a clear gap under the foot sole. So now I always drive in full shoes.

That's your opinion. Others would disagree.

When I was learning to drive, I remember my instructor telling me that you must never drive in flip flops as they can get stuck and trap pedals and nor should you drive barefoot.

I will confess, I have driven barefoot when I've been moving the car on our street but always wear flat shoes (usually ballet pumps) to drive.

Absolutely not. As a chiropodist they are useful only when walking to the pool and back from the pool to prevent verrucae.

Nope, I only ever wear trainers to drive in. I change my shoes specifically to drive. When I first started driving, I remember my mum telling me about her friend who tragically lost her life in a car crash in the 70s, after her platform heel got stuck under the break pedal. It scared me so much that I have never driven in anything other than completely flat trainers.