Do you drive in flip flops?

[Incandescentangel]

I was people watching in a coffee shop yesterday, and noticed how many people were wearing flip flops. I started wondering how many of them had driven there wearing flip flops. I have always considered it a bit dangerous so I change into a pair of shoes for driving. Am I being sensible, or am I just being ridiculous?

LOL. Feet don’t need support, they literally evolved for millions of years to support us perfectly. Barefoot is healthier for feet!

Always wear a fully enclosed shoe for safety.
A visitor wearing flip flops drove into my neighbours house wall - with some force judging by the crack from foundation to roof level…

I would have thought bare feet were better. Proper shoes even better!

That’s the issue, they can bend and get stuck under the pedal.

TBH I only really wear flip flops at home or on holiday so it's not been an issue. But no I wouldn't drive in them as it's widely accepted to be unsafe.

It's not illegal, but if you have an accident are are found to have been wearing flip flops (or other slip on sandals) then it will be worse for you.

I believe in France it is illegal to drive in shoes that dont have backs.

I dont drive in flip flops, I recently got some birkenstocks "franca" and i like the straps tight over the toes. I have driven a short distance in them but am undecided tbh. I drive a manual which is even more relevant IMO

What’s appropriate will be different for everyone though as we all have different driving styles, foot shapes and ideas around what’s comfortable.

I prefer barefoot to ballet shoes as my feet sweat in the latter. I also regularly drive in walking boots due my job and don’t have an issue whereas DH hates it, though he regularly drives in safety boots.

I wear flip flops literally all the time so yes I do. They’re always those sculpted fit flop style as I have MSK issues and putting on shoes can be the Bain of my life due to pain and stiffness, but I wouldn’t drive in bog standard ones as they’re too bendy )plus they’d hurt my feet and legs too much)

Of course your feet need (and knees) need support now that humans spend most of their time walking on hard surfaces.

I used to work in an insurance office and will always remember a claim form from quite a nasty crash, several vehicles involved, lots of damage.

For "Cause of accident" the driver had put "my footwear" - apparently the accelerator pedal had got caught between the man's foot and his flip flop and then the heel part had got caught on the floor so he couldn't free his foot easily or quickly enough to apply the brakes. Would have been pretty scary I think, to be that out of control.

All the time - Im Australian, it's normal here.

My DH works in car repairs and he had a customer who was wearing flip flops because she just had a pedicure. It got caught on the accelerator and she drove into the wall of the beauticians. The insurance company wouldn't pay out.

I promise you they don’t. Hard surfaces don’t make us more unstable, so why would we need support? Think it through logically.

If you have normal feet. My millions of years of evolution has resulted in feet that need curved soles and two operations on my toes, so sod evolution.

We’ve always spent most of our time walking on hard surfaces. The reason we need shoes now is because the surfaces are more dangerous (broken glass etc) and because growing up in shoes means we’re not used to walking barefoot anymore and find it odd and uncomfortable.

Barefoot shoes are a “thing” for good reason.

My last 2 cars have been automatics so literally drive with one foot but if I’m wearing flip flops I do tend to slip it off and drive barefoot.

I bloody love flip flops and I wear them a lot, including round the house as slippers, but I would never drive in them. Don't think it would be very safe.

Except the difference is that the DVSA doesn't advise against ballet shoes for example. Or boots. Or creepers. Or brogues. And on and on and on.

They advise against barefoot as it presents a specific risk. If you get stuck in hot traffic and you start to sweat - having already admitted to sweaty feet - then you're putting yourself and others at risk.

I drive in my fitflops, never had an issue. I find driving in heels more problematic, so usually wear flat then, if I can.
Passed my driving test 50 years ago in bare feet.

Never worn flip flops to drive. Interested to read the comments on liability in case of an accident.

Bare feet here. I often wear big clunky doc martens and I can’t even feel the pedals if I keep them on. I also find that if I wear any kind of heel, the back gets scuffed.

You guys are absolutely nuts. I live in flip flops from April till October. Longer if the weather permits. There is absolutely nothing that feels even remotely dangerous about driving in them. I can't even begin to think what you're on about.

Bonkers.

I drive in flip flops from about May - September. I cannot bear having hot feet! I'd say it was pretty common OP.

Yes, but my feet sweat more in shoes than they ever do when I’m barefoot. I’m sure lots of other people are the same.

The DVSA advice is also just that - advice. It’s not law. They advice against all sorts of things that many drivers do without a second thought - see eating or drinking, or fiddling with the radio or the climate control.

Also, they do advise against wearing shoes with heavy soles but people do it all the time - especially workmen who are in/out of peoples homes or driving vans all day.

Its 40+ degrees during the summer where I live so yes I drive in flip flops and sandals all the time and have never had an issue. Everyone else does too, I highly doubt footwear would even come in to the equation in an accident investigation, I've never heard of it anyway