Which shoes are you not allowed to drive with?

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“Not everything comfortable in summer temperatures is also suitable for driving a vehicle. Even if it is not directly prohibited by law, vehicle drivers should not take any risks here,” says ÖAMTC lawyer Verena Pronebner. In principle, any person may only operate a car, motorcycle or bicycle where it can be safely controlled. Legal consequences are conceivable if a traffic accident was partly caused by specific footwear. “This includes cases in which different footwear could have prevented the accident,” the ÖAMTC lawyer notes. Then there are also consequences under insurance law – under certain circumstances, the insurance company does not pay for damages incurred.

High heels, slippers, hiking boots
“There are three types of shoes that are not recommended for driving,” explains Roland Frisch, chief car instructor at ÖAMTC Fahrtechnik, and goes into detail: “With very high heels, the heel is unstable. With open shoes such as flip-flops, bathing slippers or sandals, there is a risk of the pedal getting tangled between the shoe and the foot. In addition, you also have hardly any grip. And with very clunky shoes, you no longer have a feel for the pedals in the vehicle.” Especially in startle and emergencies, you should automatically press the right pedal. There is no time to correct, as the driving technique professional explains. And barefoot at the wheel? “Not a good idea either,” the pros agree. In emergency braking, the pressure on the pedals cannot be exerted, and the foot slips off the pedal more efficiently.

Spare shoes for the car
“Car drivers are best off wearing a shoe made of sturdy and comfortable material, with a good fit and a flat, thin, non-slip sole. This provides a good grip, prevents threading between the pedals and ensures optimum power transfer to the pedals,” says Frisch, summarizing the essential facts on the subject. He advises having a pair of “road-ready” shoes in the car to switch to before you start your journey, to be on the safe side. “The shoes that are taken off should be stowed safely – preferably in the trunk or the passenger’s footwell. Under no circumstances should they be in your own footwell, where they can get jammed under the pedals,” he adds.