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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Drivers given £100 fine warning over wearing style of footwear behind the wheel
In more serious cases penalties can escalate sharply if improper footwear is deemed to have contributed to an accident — fines up to £5,000, nine points on your licence, or even a driving ban As temperatures rise and summer approaches, many drivers reach for their favourite footwear — flip-flops, Crocs or sandals — before hitting the road. But while these styles may be comfortable for the beach, experts and motoring authorities warn that wearing the wrong footgear could land drivers with a £100 fine — and potentially much harsher penalties — if they are found to have compromised safety behind the wheel. It is a common misconception that driving in flip-flops, or even barefoot, is illegal in the UK — but there is no specific law banning any footwear, or the lack of it altogether, while operating a motor vehicle. The RAC confirms that 'it is not illegal to drive in the UK without shoes on and the same applies for wearing flip flops'. However, the crucial point is whether your choice of footwear allows you to operate the vehicle's controls safely. Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that drivers must ensure their clothing and footwear do not prevent them from "using the controls in the correct manner". If police believe your footwear, or lack of it, has impaired your control of the vehicle — such as causing your foot to slip off the pedals or get caught underneath — you could be charged with 'driving without due care and attention' or 'not being in proper control of a motor vehicle'. If stopped by police or involved in an accident, drivers found to be wearing inappropriate footwear risk an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three penalty points on their licence. In more serious cases, especially if the incident goes to court, the penalties can escalate sharply: fines up to £5,000, nine penalty points and even a driving ban are possible if it's found that improper footwear contributed to a loss of control or an accident. As managing director at Jamie Barke, explains: 'While it's not explicitly illegal to drive in flip-flops or Crocs in the UK, the Highway Code Rule 97 states that drivers must wear clothing and footwear that allow them to use the vehicle controls properly. If you're found to be driving without proper control, you could be charged with careless driving,' Experts warn that flip-flops, Crocs and similar backless or loose-fitting shoes can easily slip off, get wedged under pedals, or fail to provide the grip and support needed for safe driving. The RAC recommends that suitable driving shoes should have a sole no thicker than 10mm, but not too thin or soft, provide enough grip to prevent slipping off the pedals, not be too heavy or restrict ankle movement, and be narrow enough to avoid pressing two pedals at once. Driving in flip-flops - the stats Louise Thomas, car insurance expert at said: 'While it isn't against the law to drive in certain footwear or clothes, if you get involved in an accident, you could be charged with dangerous driving. 'That's why you should always make sure your driving capability isn't impacted and that you have full control of your vehicle at all times." Louise also detailed how research by insurance experts showed that 16% of motorists had been involved in an accident or near-miss due to driving in flip-flops. In the event of a crash, insurance companies may even refuse to pay out if it's determined that inappropriate footwear contributed to the incident.
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
UK tourists driving in certain footwear issued warning in Spain and Greece
Brits have been urged to brush up on local driving rules, as experts warn wearing two types of holiday footwear while behind the wheel could result in a hefty €344 (£282) fine Sun-worshipping Brits jetting off to the likes of Spain and Greece this year have been issued a stark driving warning. If sitting on a coach with a bunch of strangers in stifling heat isn't how you want your holiday to begin, you may have already considered hiring a rental car. It's a great way to roam around the lesser-visited parts of the country - means you're not tied down to the strict agenda of the tour trip - and allows you to live out your fantasy of whizzing through the Amalfi Coast with the sun-roof down. However, it is always worth brushing up on local driving laws before you get behind the wheel. Many European countries have different rules compared to the UK, and we're not just talking about which side of the road you should drive on... READ MORE: Spanish islands' all-inclusive 6-drink cap and what it really means for tourists Over in the UK, it is not explicitly illegal to drive in summer footwear like flip-flops or crocs. Under Highway Code Rule 97, drivers must wear clothing and footwear that 'allow them to use the vehicle controls properly' - but if you're found to be driving without proper control, you could be found guilty of 'careless driving'. This carries a £100 on-the-spot fine (but issued fines may be as high as £5,000) as well as three-nine points on your licence, or even a driving ban. In a statement sent to the Mirror, Jamie Barke, Managing Director at explains that the rules in holiday hotspots like Spain, France, and Greece, are quite similar. "While they don't explicitly ban flip-flops, crocs, or barefoot driving, vaguely worded laws can allow local authorities to fine drivers if their footwear is deemed unsafe," the expert added. In Italy, minor motoring offences risk a €87 (£72) fine, but can climb up to €344 (£282). This falls under the the Codice della Strada, Article 141) which states the driver must always maintain control of their vehicle. Over in Portugal, fines range from €60 (£50) to €300 (£251) for failing to 'abstain from practices that may impair safe driving'. Spain's Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor, Article 13, makes it clear that drivers must always maintain control of their vehicles. Failure to do so can lead to fines of up to €200 (£167). Similarly, French law dictates that 'drivers must be in a condition to perform all necessary driving manoeuvres' - or risk a maximum fine of €150 (£125) - while Greece can fine holidaymakers up to €100 (£83) if they do not drive 'with caution'. Again, none of these driving rules explicitly ban any kind of footwear. But, if your choice of shoes impacts your driving, or ability to control your vehicle, you may still be fined. The expert also argued that beyond safety concerns, beachwear could cause a hidden risk to your car's interior. This could be particularly costly if you're hiring your car from a company and didn't take out extra protection. "Flip-flops and crocs often mean tracking in sand, grit, and moisture into the car after beach trips," Jamie added. "These elements can damage interiors over time. To avoid fines and for additional safety, we always recommend keeping a spare pair of proper driving shoes in your car and using an easy-to-clean car mat to prevent long-term interior damage."
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Drivers warned as key item to be banned from June
Drivers are being warned to prepare for a ban coming into effect from June. Single-use disposable vapes will no longer be sold and a warning has been issued to every motorists who uses vapes. It will lead to an increase of refillable vapes and there are concerns this could potentially distract drivers while on the road. READ MORE: Drivers could face £1,000 fine for not having this item in their cars in April Get all the latest motoring news sent to your inbox by signing up to our new newsletter here Experts say reusable vapes create larger vapour clouds and could obstruct drivers' view. Should motorists be involved in an incident, they could be done for careless driving or driving without due care and attention. Jamie Barke, managing director of said: "Despite the many positive health and environmental benefits associated with the June 1 ban on single-use vapes, motorists who regularly vape in their cars should be made aware of the potential risks of switching to a reusable and refillable device. 'It states in section three of the Road Traffic Act that driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place without 'due care and attention', or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place, means they are guilty of an offence. "The potential punishment for this nature of offence can result in a £5,000 fine or nine points on their driving licence. 'Under the Road Traffic Act, anything that obscures a driver's vision, including vapour from an electronic device, can lead to them being prosecuted. 'While this may not have been the case with the smaller, disposable vapes that will no longer be in circulation, the larger, more dense vapour clouds created by reusable devices may more easily obstruct a drivers view, due to fogged up windscreens, side mirrors, or a lack of rear-view visibility. 'The manual adjustments often found on reusable vape devices, such as wattage settings, airflow and temperature controls can more easily draw a motorists attention away from the road. "What's more, these heavier, bulkier products often require regular tank refilling or coil changes, tempting some drivers to carry out these tasks while on the move.' Jamie also warned: "The increased amount of vapour that reusable vapes produce compared to disposables can leave behind a greasy film across windscreens and windows, screens, dashboards and vents. "It can also cause stronger, longer-lasting odours to linger within car upholstery and mats. 'Over time, the sweet or acidic e-liquid flavours can settle and may even start to cause discolouration or degradation of surfaces within a car.'
