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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you can drive in any shoes?

115 replies

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 20/01/2022 15:43

Tried to drive my (newish to me) car in boots with a small 1 inch heel today and constantly felt like I was going to stall the car!

I’ve been driving ages but I can’t see to drive in anything other than flat boots, converse or ballet flat!

Is it just me? What am I doing wrong? I don’t want to be going around revving like a boy racer cos I want to look less like a potato!

OP posts:
CA0932017 · 20/01/2022 16:29

I'm actually the opposite. I get severe foot pain and struggle with pedal control driving in totally flat shoes like converse or pumps. I drive much better in a slight heel like boots with a one inch heel as you explain, find my heels rest nicely on the floor with a small block heel! Obviously I wouldn't drive in proper high heels!

I have been guilty of driving in flip flops though!

CarButtonCloth · 20/01/2022 16:29

No, only completely flat converse or ballet type shoes. Anything with an even slightly thicker sole and I can't feel the pedals properly.

LaBelleSausage · 20/01/2022 16:32

I ideally need to be able to move my ankle so anything too restrictive like work boots are not great for my clutch

Tried to drive in flip flops once as I didn't think about it. They're the stuff of nightmares, I ended up driving barefooted

crazyjinglist · 20/01/2022 16:32

I can drive in any of the shoes I own, but I don't own any heels or flipflops! I can drive in walking boots or wellies.

TragoCardboardCopper · 20/01/2022 16:33

I can drive in any shoes from stilettos to ballet pumps. I've even driven in flip flops with no issues, but wouldn't do it since an acquaintance had an accident due to her flip flops.

But I cannot drive in bare feet, clutch control and breaking is impossible for me without shoes on.

Orangesox · 20/01/2022 16:34

I can drive both with anything on my feet or barefoot without issue. When I first passed my test it had to thin soled trainers though, with a spare pair in the car at all times. Grin

Admittedly it’s all a lot easier now I have an automatic. I think the seating position relative to the pedals makes a difference as I have found that I’ve struggled in high heels in my husbands car which is much lower than mine.

Sartre · 20/01/2022 16:35

I don’t think it’s particularly safe to drive in sandals or heels personally, should be a full flat shoe or boot. A woman crashed into the back of DH once when her very high heel slipped off the brake pedal at a junction.

I can only drive in trainers.

BFPDec21 · 20/01/2022 16:35

I can drive in most shoes but the seat position does need to be adjusted with a heel, in my experience anyway.

soughsigh · 20/01/2022 16:35

I can drive in pretty much anything, although I've never tried high heels. Don't find flip flops a bother although I tend to slip them off and just drive barefoot.

Legally, the highway code is very vague - it just says something about wearing appropriate footwear. Therefore if you have an accident and your shoes are found to blame, they can throw the book at you. So better stick to what you find safe and practical to drive in, keep a pair of car flats in the glove compartment.

Sartre · 20/01/2022 16:35

Also pretty sure it’s illegal to drive barefoot so surprised so many of you have even tried that!

MarchingOnTogether · 20/01/2022 16:37

I can only drive in flat or low wedges. I have some boots with a small heel that I I drive in but it's not as comfortable.
Tbh I can't even walk in high heels so never attempted to drive in them Grin

readwhatiactuallysay · 20/01/2022 16:37

I wear high heels all the time and i can drive in anything, i choose not to though as i have scratched the back of the heel on a couple of pairs, so i swap into other shoes if my shoes look like they might get damaged at the heel.

madisonbridges · 20/01/2022 16:38

I've driven in everything from flat to high heel, sandal to boot. I have driven with nothing but only shifting the car round at home.id never do that on roads. Along as my footwear feel secure, I'm good to go.

Alayalaya · 20/01/2022 16:42

If you do actually have a serious accident your footwear could result in you being fined or worse. It could contribute to a dangerous driving case against you, they would say you didn’t have full control of the car. Safer to wear flats imo.

BogRollBOGOF · 20/01/2022 16:42

Size 4 boots are not a problem for placing on pedals! As long as shoes are securely anchored to my feet, I'm fine, but I only really wear shoes with straps so only crocs are ruled out. I have never successfully walked with something like ballet pumps without them staying behind anyway.

I was more fussy when I started driving and needed heels to ease the angle of my calves. Some cars are just too uncomfortable to drive and I've rarely driven DH's last two cars as they have ridiculous accelerators pivoted from the bottom so I either have to drive with subtle pressure from my toes to rest my heel, or suspend my leg to reach half-way up the pedal which is painful quite quickly.

He's more fussy and only drives in formal shoes as he finds anything else too clumpy in his size 12s. He can't even cope with trainers. But at least he can reach the accelerator comfortably in any car.

madisonbridges · 20/01/2022 16:42

@Sartre

Also pretty sure it’s illegal to drive barefoot so surprised so many of you have even tried that!
I would think its a problem if you needed to break suddenly but there was something on the brake pedal or bottom of your foot that hurt with pressure so you wouldn't be able to break hard enough.
enjoyingscience · 20/01/2022 16:44

Anything except flip flops (dangerous) and high heels (uncomfortable and dangerous). I tend to just do it in bare feet rather than change if I need to take off my flip flops though.

maggiecate · 20/01/2022 16:45

Can drive in low heels, - I’ve never tried high heels but it would ruin them pretty quickly. My dad always said we shouldn’t drive in wellies or heavy boots because they could get stuck between the pedals and end up pressing both so I’m a bit paranoid about that, and anything that means you can’t flex your ankle properly is a no for me. I’ve just done some googling and this Is quite interesting: www.birchallblackburn.co.uk/settle-it-wellies-wet-weather-am-i-legal-to-drive/#:~:text=Is%20it%20illegal%20to%20drive,you%20cannot%20wear%20while%20driving.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 20/01/2022 16:46

Flexible closed toe shoes securely attached to my feet..

When living abroad my sandal nearly came off and it terrified me.

DH prefers thick boots as its what he's used to. (Army boots)

Justcallmebebes · 20/01/2022 16:48

Any shoes but not barefoot for some reason

gogohm · 20/01/2022 16:50

Pretty much, I prefer not to drive in stilettos but have done so to work events (I wouldn't normally be driving in nice shoes as I like a tipple or two but I don't drink when I run work events)

etaussi · 20/01/2022 16:51

I have a pair of boots I don't like driving in but everything else is fine. The boots are fine control-wise I just worry the buckles might get caught up

Driving barefoot I find virtually impossible because it hurts my feet and you feel like you need to press much harder

Glitterspy · 20/01/2022 16:51

I prefer a small heel for driving, I have small feet and otherwise have to sort of hover my foot to the accelerator which is tiring.

I can drive in any shoes, but would slip flip flops off as they get in the way, and find wide/chunky boots or trainers harder because they somehow make your feet less sensitive iyswim?

Tbh it’s whatever you’re used to. Also what car you drive - my current automatic is a lot easier in any old shoes, compared to driving “stick”.

EerieSilence · 20/01/2022 16:54

Do not really like driving in heels but can do if needed. I have driven in wellies on several occasions and it was all good. Would never drive in flip flops or similar shoes with no heel support.

sqirrelfriends · 20/01/2022 16:56

I can drive in heels, as long as not too high. I actually quite like it as I can pivot my foot on the heel.

Wellies on the other hand are a nuisance. The rubber doesn't move easily along the leather and gets wedged down my leg. Not nice.