As temperatures soar to sizzling highs this weekend, millions of Brits will be reaching for their summer clothes and footwear. But experts at Driver Hire Training are warning those heading on the roads that they could be breaching the Highway Code, landing themselves a fine of up to £5000 or even a driving ban.
While there aren't laws in place that say what motorists can and cannot wear behind the wheel, sporting flip flops, sliders or even going barefoot could mean you’re in breach of the Highway Code.
Rule 97 of the code states that your clothing and footwear should ‘not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner’ and should your footwear lead to dangerous driving, you could land yourself with a fine.
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Offences such as ‘driving without reasonable consideration for other road users’ and ‘careless driving’ could be breached if you’re found to be driving dangerously, even if it’s your footwear at fault. For example, flip flops could get caught under your pedals or snap completely, while a long skirt could risk getting trapped as well.
If you have an accident as a result of wearing flip flops, or are caught by the police, you could face a charge of “driving without due care and attention”. This comes with a £100 fine and three points on your licence. However, the price could be increased up to a £5,000 alongside nine points on your licence, or worst still, a full ban from driving.
Richard Owen-Hughes, Marketing Director at Driver Hire Training commented, “Drivers should make conscious decisions to wear clothing and shoes that aren’t at risk of endangering themselves or those around them. Whilst it may be tempting to be in cooler shoes during the heatwave, we advise drivers to make use of other cooling systems in the vehicle to make the drive more enjoyable and safe.”
Experts at Driver Hire have advised drivers to avoid wearing the following summer footwear to ensure safety:
- Flip flops
Despite being a popular choice of summer footwear, wearing flip flops can be dangerous due to their flimsy nature, and risk of getting caught on pedals.
- Sliders
Whilst they may be dominating fashion right now, sliders again have the ability to slip off as while driving. As they are naturally a lighter shoe than most, they could affect pedal sensitivity and potentially cause drivers to make a mistake.
- High heels
The ability to push down on the pedals is limited when wearing higher heels, and can alter the weight applied. Heels, especially stilettos, can also easily slip off the pedals and aren’t practical for driving.
They’ve also provided their top tips for keeping your vehicle cool in the heatwave:
- Keep the vehicle in shade
Try storing your vehicle in shade, under cover or in a garage to keep the direct sunlight from heating up the interior. You can also consider using sun shades which run across the windscreen or windows to reflect heat away.
- Air conditioning
Make use of your vehicle’s air conditioning to make sure you remain cool, but also alert when driving. This is ideal when driving on motorways or at increased speeds.
- Windows down
It may sound obvious, but use your windows. When driving at slower speeds, make use of the breeze by putting your window slightly ajar. As warm air rises this can help the hotter air escape.
- Water
Bring water – most importantly for you, so you can stay hydrated, but also for your vehicle. Should it overheat you may need to top up the cooling system.
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