During this hot weather is it legal for me to drive barefoot in my car?
Please allow Derby Advanced Motorists to start this answer with a definition.
Toe: A part of the foot used to find furniture in the dark.
The unbooted foot is also an excellent tool for finding abandoned Lego bricks on the floor. Apparently, the bottom of a human foot can have over 200,000 sensory receptors and, because the Lego brick doesn’t give way when stepped on, it forces the pressure of one’s weight back up into the foot, causing the sensation of pain and an immediate retraction of said foot and probably a lot of bad language.
The seaside hobble is another fine example of the human nervous system at work. Have you ever been for a paddle in the sea, and had to cross an area of pebbles before reaching the surf? Going slowly and carefully only prolonged the agony!
So, is it illegal to drive barefoot in the UK?
Rule 97 in the Highway Code is not really all that helpful.
Rule 97 Before setting off. You should ensure that: clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner
You can, in other words drive a vehicle, barefoot, provided you are able to operate the controls safely. Although, please note: Rule 97 does state “…and footwear”. If you do drive 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. 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.”
The R.A.C. gives this advice on its website. “Driving in less than practical shoes – or no shoes at all for that matter – is not illegal, but you have a responsibility as a driver to uphold standards on the road.
If your selection of footwear hampers that, you’re putting yourself at risk.
There are some basic guidelines you should follow when selecting footwear to drive in. Your shoe should:
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Have a sole no thicker than 10mm…
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… but the sole should not be too thin or soft.
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Provide enough grip to stop your foot slipping off the pedals.
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Not be too heavy.
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Not limit ankle movement.
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Be narrow enough to avoid accidentally depressing two pedals at once.
These bear feet would not be suitable!
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 boots, snow boots and wellingtons”
Try emergency braking with a small piece of stone stuck on the ball of the right foot!
So, in summary, although legal it is not advisable. IAM RoadSmart expect drivers to choose sensible footwear!
