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Driving In Flip Flops Could Land You With A Fine And Points On Your Licence

Driving In Flip Flops Could Land You With A Fine And Points On Your Licence

So could driving in sunglasses

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

Shorts weather is upon us, lads, and with the current heatwave hitting 30C and above, it's likely you've been soaking up the sun this weekend.

But although you might be tempted to throw your flip flops on when you need to head to the shop for supplies, you should probably think twice - it could end up in trouble if you get into a crash.

There's no official rule banning the wearing of flip flops, but the Highway Code does tell drivers they must wear 'footwear and clothing which does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner'.

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As flip flops are basically designed to slip on and off, there's a chance they could come off while you're in the driving seat or they could end up getting stuck underneath a pedal, which would cause an accident or lead to erratic driving.

If stopped by police over concerns for your driving, or if you're involved in a crash, you could face a charge of driving without due care and attention, which carries an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three points on your licence.

In a more serious case, you could even end up in court and whacked with a fine of up to £5,000, up to nine points on your licence or even a driving ban.

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Speaking to The Sun, IAM RoadSmart's director of policy and research Neil Greig said: "Before setting off, you should ensure that clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner.

"If flip flops stopped you being in control you could be prosecuted, as you are breaking Highway Code Rule 97.

"Careless driving is mostly judged on the impact your driving has on others around you, so if you are spotted swerving or braking erratically and then stopped and found to have inadequate footwear, you could be prosecuted.

"If you do cause a crash, then it could also be an aggravating factor against you in court and lead to a slightly higher fine or longer ban."

And while we're on the topic, you might want to swerve the sunglasses too, at the risk of getting a significant fine of £2,500 ($3,400), to be precise.

You can also get three to nine penalty points on your license.

It's also not advisable to use your phone.
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But, it's worth considering that you can also be fined for NOT wearing sunglasses, too.

Let me explain.

You see, if you're wearing sunglasses that are too dark, you might not be able to see that well. If you can't see that well, you obviously can't drive that well, and you're liable for a fine.

However, if you are driving into bright light and are dazzled by sunlight reflecting off snow, or a puddle, or anything at all, you also aren't driving well.

So, not only can the wrong pair of sunglasses land you with a maximum £2,500 fine, not wearing them at all can also land you with a fine.

Got it? OK, it's a bit confusing, but that's the rule.

Featured Image Credit: Storyblocks

Topics: UK News, Driving