While these may all be valid points, none of them are technically correct.
Read our road safety guide below to learn more.
Is it illegal to drive without shoes?
Here is the law in a nutshell: it is not illegal to drive in the UK without shoes on and the same applies for wearing flip flops.
You can get behind the wheel of a vehicle barefoot or while wearing flip flops, provided you are able to operate the controls safely. If you do so with wet feet, for example, you might be putting yourself, your passengers and other road users at risk by not being able to drive the car safely. This is illegal.
And while it's not illegal to drive without shoes on, that doesn’t mean it’s right.
According to the Driving Standards Agency – the body that regulates the UK driving test – “suitable shoes are particularly important behind the wheel. We would not recommend driving barefoot because you don’t have the same braking force with bare feet as you do with shoes on.”
Roadside & Recovery from £5.29 a month*
• Cheaper than AA Price Guarantee^
• We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
• Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot
Footwear when driving
There are some basic guidelines you should follow when selecting footwear to drive in. Your shoe should:
- Have a sole no thicker than 10mm…
- … but 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.
This does technically categorise some types of footwear – such as high-heels and flip-flops – unsuitable for piloting a car.
While light, flimsy and impractical footwear can be dangerous, so can sturdy, robust shoes, such as walking or snow boots.
It’s important to have a good base and grip to apply pressure to the pedals, but you need a certain degree of finesse to manipulate the controls. If not, you could strike the brake and accelerator together, producing a heart-in-mouth incident.
- 13 driving myths uncovered
- Dangerous driving - what it is and how to report it
- Learner driver insurance - from 2 hours to 5 months
Have you ever driven barefoot?
- Buying a used car - the ultimate checklist
- Mobile phone driving laws - what is and isn't illegal?
- Drink-drive limits: everything you need to know
If you're looking for complete peace of mind for you and your vehicle, why not purchase RAC breakdown cover today. Get coverage at home and at the roadside as standard today.
Get 30 driving tips that will save you money
Running a car isn’t cheap, but there are some easy things you can do to keep your costs down. Get these tips and more useful driving articles sent straight to your inbox now.
What shoes should you not wear while driving?
It is advisable to not wear flip flops, sandals or high high shoes when driving. This is because it is not safe for you or other road users and doesn't give you the best chance of reacting quickly to a potential issue on the road.
You should be wearing shoes and trainers with a sole with grip and ankle support.
Service, repair or MOT?
You can trust the RAC with our local approved garages and NEW mobile mechanics.
