Whether legal or not, dn't drive in flip-flops as they could slip off your feet. picture alliance / dpa When it is warm outside and you're wearing flip-flops or sandals, you may be tempted to drive in them too. Don't, for safety reasons, say automotive experts. Depending on where you live, the footwear may not be prohibited by law, but Germany's driving association ADAC strongly advises against wearing them at the wheel. That is because flip-flops significantly increase the risk of an accident. Particularly when you apply the brakes, there is a risk that such open shoes would slip off the pedal faster, meaning the car won't come to a halt soon enough," says Oliver Reidegeld from ADAC Hessen-Thüringen. Advertisement Advertisement Worse still, loose footwear could come off your feet, become wedged in the footwell and block the pedals. However, simply taking off your flip-flops and the like before setting off and driving barefoot is not a good idea either. In an emergency, you could not apply the necessary pressure to the brake pedal quickly enough, under certain circumstances, Reidegeld says. Problems with your insurance Bear in mind that while legally, no particular footwear is prescribed for drivers in principle, for drivers, meaning flip-flops, sandals and so on are not banned, if an accident occurs, you may struggle with the insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Drivers may be found partly at fault for having breached the duty of care required when driving on public roads. In some cases, that could mean your comprehensive insurance could reduce or even completely refuse cover on the grounds of gross negligence. So choose sturdy footwear when driving that fits securely and safely and is not too wide, the ADAC says. "If you don't want to walk around in closed shoes all day, you can simply keep a pair of trainers in the boot as a spare and quickly change your shoes before setting off," Reidegeld says. It's safer to drive with shoes that are fixed to your feet as flipflops for example could slip off. Christin Klose/dpa-tmn
Liked by Camille Bouchard, Oliver Pelletier
Liked by Camille Bouchard, Oliver Pelletier
Liked by Camille Bouchard, Oliver Pelletier
