Which Shoes To Avoid While Driving

Driving is a complicated affair. At least, driving safely isn’t as straightforward as most of us believe. There are many laws, rules, and recommendations that conscientious drivers must follow if they wish to reduce the risk of accidents. Today, we’re going to focus on the issue of driving shoes. Many is the time that a car accident is followed by the driver at fault emerging from their vehicle wearing inappropriate footwear – suggesting they may have lost control of things because of their shoes. Speak to a car accident lawyer (Fort Lee) if you have been affected. So, which shoes should you avoid while driving?

Shoes To Avoid While Driving

Flip flops

Flip flops offer a very loose fit, meaning that you are likely to constantly be moving your feet and toes in an attempt to balance the flip flop back into place each time you press a pedal down. This doesn’t bode well for careful driving, as fett that are in a constant state of movement aren’t necessarily always going to be placed properly on the pedals. 

There’s also the very real concern of the flip flop becoming entangled with the pedal, whereby the over-foot strap becomes stuck behind the pedal. Needless to say, this kind of confusion with what’s going on down there is the last thing you need when trying to drive carefully.

High heels

High heels present two issues. First, we are used to tilting our feet forwards to use the pedals, but we are used to the heel of our foot resting on the floor of the footwell. Where you introduce extra height to the starting position of your foot, the angles are changed. This means that, in high pressure situations, you may not be able to control your vehicle in the same way, meaning accidents may occur.

Secondly, the tip of the heels is notorious for over-gripping or getting caught on carpeting and floor mats. This can lead to extra pressure being applied when the foot doesn’t move as expected, and a jolting forward of the foot when the heel loses grip as you push. 

Platform soles

Platform shoes can disguise the pressure you are applied, leading to a situation in which you are reacting to your own driving, rather than being in control. The platform soles can also hit the sides of the pedals when changing pedals, meaning your use of that pedal may be delayed while you compensate.

Best Driving Shoes?

Now that you realize that you should probably avoid common types of footwear when driving, you are probably wondering what the best driving shoes are? The answer is not simple, but one thing is sure, and that is the fact that you should definitely keep a pair of sensible driving shoes in the glovebox or trunk.  

When you are looking for driving shoes, natural materials like leather are a good idea. I especially love leather loafers for driving.

Can I Drive Barefoot?

If you don’t like the idea of keeping a separate pair of driving shoes in your trunk, you may be tempted to drive barefoot. Depending on where you are in the world, there may be laws – or local laws – against driving without the use of appropriate footwear. Aside from anything, if you do cause a crash while driving barefoot, the other driver may attempt to use this evidence against you, as a means of proving that you were perhaps not as in control of your vehicle as you could have been had you been wearing the correct footwear.

In conclusion, a comfortable pair of driving shoes is a good idea to own and making sure you know which shoes to avoid while driving is important too!