Driving in flip-flops could see you fined up to £5,000 this summer
Brits have seen a significant rise in temperature this week with today (26 June) pegged to be one of the hottest days we've seen this year so far.
So, apart from all the BBQs, alfresco Euros celebrations and picnics, I'm sure many of us are shedding those extra layers in favour of something a little more breezy - and the same goes for our footwear too.
Now, while we may tend to have more of a care-free approach to pretty much everything when the weather gets warmer, it's clear there's one thing you can't be too lax about at all.
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Drivers have now been warned that driving in flip-flops could see you fined up to a staggering amount this summer.
This is because driving in flip flops - or any footwear that 'prevents you from properly using controls in the vehicle' - could land you with a £5,000 fine.
If a police officer pulls you over and deems your footwear to be inappropriate, a 'Driving Without Due Care and Attention' offence could be heading your way.
It is defined as 'allowing the standard of driving to fall below that of a competent and careful driver'.
The offence comes with a fixed fine of £100 along with three points on your driving license.
However, according to RAC: "The maximum penalty here is nine points on your licence and a £5,000 fine."
Failure to comply could result in being 'disqualified from driving altogether'.
The RAC advise that your driving shoes should:
- Have a sole no thicker than 10mm
- The sole should not be too thin or soft
- Provide enough grip to stop your foot slipping off the pedals.
- Not be too heavy
- Not limit ankle movement
- Be narrow enough to avoid accidentally depressing two pedals at once
Under Rule 97 of the Highway Code, drivers are advised they must have 'footwear and clothing which does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner'.
Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research, told The Sun Motors: “Before setting off, you should ensure that clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner.
“If flip flops stopped you being in control you could be prosecuted, as you are breaking Highway Code Rule 97.
"Careless driving is mostly judged on the impact your driving has on others around you, so if you are spotted swerving or braking erratically and then stopped and found to have inadequate footwear, you could be prosecuted.
"If you do cause a crash, then it could also be an aggravating factor against you in court and lead to a slightly higher fine or longer ban."
Selim Cavanagh, Chief Executive at ingenie, said: "It’s promising that almost a third of drivers assume driving in flip flops is illegal, because it’s really dangerous.
"They slip off, slide under the pedals, get caught between your feet and the pedals and if your feet are wet, they’ll affect your ability to brake if you need to.
“Aside from the actual rules though, driving in flip flops can create a dangerous driving environment, and put you, your passengers, and other road users at risk."
Adam Antoszkiw, solicitor advocate at law firm Gray and Co, also shared his expertise on the matter, telling Full Fact: "To wear flip flops in itself isn't an offence but it's probably not a clever idea.
"If there's an accident of any sort, it would be much easier to suggest that you are culpable because your flip-flop got stuck underneath the pedal, for example, which then led to offences like driving without due care and attention or not having control of the vehicle.
"These are entry level offences but if something more serious were to happen, you potentially wouldn't be able to say you'd done everything you could to prevent it.
"You wouldn't necessarily be charged but the gateway for the standard of driving to fall below that of a reasonable and competent driver has opened.
"The prosecution may be more easily led to prove you are culpable in the knowledge that you were wearing flip flops."
Rhiannon Ingle