... to think that you shouldn't drive in flip flops?

[thisvelvetglove]

Or similar unsecured footwear?

That is all. :)

I drove in a pair of sandles (slight wedge) they got stuck.
Luckily on a quiet road, near sh*t myself

I always take mine off and drive barefoot.

What on earth is wrong with driving barefoot? There's nothing that can possibly get in the way, and I can't see how wearing shoes would make you more able to stamp on the brake or anything like that?

Sorry, I know it's not the OP's question but I'm confused people have problems with driving barefoot.

I wouldn't feel very confident in a car with someone driving in flip-flops TBH.

The problem with driving barefoot is the increased chance of cramp because you have to keep your foot elevated to hover over the brake. If you get cramp it can be harder to use your foot adequately to hit the brake. If you wear proper soled enclosed shoes you can use the force of your leg to push the hard sole onto the brake regardless of what's going on inside the shoe!

So my instructor told me anyway....

I don't drive with flip flops as they have a habit of getting caught under the pedal so drive bare footed when I'm wearing them.

Mmm, not sure I buy that. I have driven a lot of longish distances and never got cramp. The other day I drive from Lancaster to Oxford, for example - not even a hint of it. Might the seat be in the wrong position? If you're too close to the pedals you can end up with your foot at a funny angle.

I can see why it would be an issue if you are prone to cramp, though, that does make sense.

I've driven in toeless shoes before and got them caught under the pedal as I was trying to brake coming to the end of a queue of traffic. Just managed to get my foot unstuck and brake in time. I now always drive in flats with my toes fully covered. It's not worth the risk.

Going by the RAC's list of suitable footwear my steel capped work boots fail on several points, they restrict ankle movement, the soles are thick which prevents feeling the pedals and they're quite wide so sometimes they can cover the edge of the adjacent pedal.

Not sure what I can do about them though. My flipflops (fitflops) have a strap close to the ankle and never slip off so I feel perfectly safe in them.

Unless I'm going to work (or it's winter), I drive in flip flops. I've never had an issue in nearly 20 years of driving.

I won't drive in flip flops or open toed sandals.

I have driven in heels, wellys, steel toe capped boots and barefoot (and pretty much every other shoe in between).

It's an individual thing. I wouldn't feel safe in the car with someone driving in flip flops or sandals either.

Wellies are the only ones I've found slightly difficult to drive in. My flip flops are quite substantial though.

we had a horrible incident recently at work where someone driving in sandals got the accelerator stuck between his foot and sandal and he managed to somehow write off about 8 staff cars just spinning out of control at speed. Ended up putting a crack in the wall of our building too.

I did manage to get my workboot covering the brake and accelerator a couple of times, took a few seconds to work out what was happening the first time so I'm more careful now.
When I analyse how I move from one pedal to the other it tends to be a pivot not a slide. With work boots you have to pivot and lift as the sole is too thick to slide.

If you slide I guess its easier to get the sole caught.

Agree with NCIS, steelies are literally the worst driving experience ever. I drive in flip flops a lot, but my car has a hinged at the floor accelerator and is an auto, so I only really could come up with a problem using the brake. Most of my flip flops are sturdy ones, either Birkenstocks or ones with a sporty trainer sole so I don't have many problems.

The steel toe caps end up on the accelerator and brake if you aren't careful.

Also, more likely to do a long journey in flip flops than one round a town, cruising on the motorway you don't use the pedals, not like roundabouts and crossings and constant braking and accelerating.