Warning as drivers face £100 fine for wearing wrong shoes behind the wheel
DRIVERS have been warned that they face a £100 fine for wearing the wrong shoes behind the wheel.
As the weather heats up it might be tempting to kick off your winter shoes for something lighter, but doing so could see you in hot water.
That's because rule 97 of the Highway Code states that motorists must drive in footwear that "does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner";.
This rule means that if you got into any sort of accident or if you were stopped by cops for not having proper control of the vehicle, wearing something like flip-flops could see you slapped with a penalty notice.
The fine could cost you up to £100 and you could also face three points being added to your licence.
Louise Thomas, motor insurance expert, said: "It can be confusing to know the rules when it comes to driving in the correct clothing and footwear.
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"And with the weather warming up, and many switching to their summer wardrobe, it’s important to know how this could impact your driving.
"If your clothing or footwear restricts your movement you could find that it impacts your driving."
Louise added that while no law specifically bans any items of clothing, but drivers should always be aware of anything that could impact on their control of their motor.
This means that shoes like high heels or platforms are out too.
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Luckily for motorists, the RAC have produced a set of guidelines covering what makes a good driving shoe.
It comes after it was revealed that a little-known rule of the road could see drivers slapped with a £5,000 fine for breaking it.
Meanwhile, car owners were also warned about a possible £2,000 fine for not being polite behind the wheel.
RAC's guide to driving footwear
Shoes shoud:
- 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
- Be narrow enough to avoid accidentally depressing two pedals at once
- Not limit ankle movement