A new study shows that a quarter of drivers blame their footwear for road accidents, with one in three people admitting to driving in flip flops, and revealing that they find them more dangerous than driving in high heels.
According to research it’s estimated that flip flops cause 1.4 million accidents on Britain’s roads every year.
In a recent survey, 27% of drivers specified that operating a motor vehicle whilst wearing flip flops had led to a motoring mishap. A further 11% revealed that a flip flop had got stuck under pedals whilst driving.
In an effort to prevent accidents caused by flip flop malfunctions leading insurance company Sheilas’ Wheels has launched a device to make flip flops more stable when driving.
In a statement from Jacky Brown, of Sheilas’ Wheels she said: “It’s the ultimate summer car accessory. The design tucks into a car glovebox and securely customises any flip flop providing extra foot support around the heel while offering added stability on the pedals. The flip flop accessory can also be scrunched up to fit inside a handbag or pocket.â€
The poll also revealed that just one in seven motorists (14%) have taken the decision not to drive due to concerns regarding their footwear. 36% of safety-conscious women opted to carry a pair of driving shoes in their vehicle, whereas just one in eight men (12%) carried driving shoes in the car.
Over half of the motorists surveyed (53%), urged further advice and guidelines to be supplied on the impacts of driving in different footwear. This stems from 26% of drivers admitting to choosing style over safety, with women predominantly choosing footwear that went with an outfit.
One in 10 women (10%) also admitted to wearing footwear in the car that they have struggled to walk in.
Data from the survey revealed the top five summer footwear styles which proved problematic for UK drivers:
1. Flip flops (51%)
2. Bare feet (49%)
3. Wedge heels (38%)
4. Espadrilles (25%)
5. Sandals (18%)
Case Studies
Joseph O’Connor
Joseph, from Sale, blamed poor flip flop choice when he appeared in court charged with drink driving and driving without due care and attention, to which he pleaded guilty.
He said: “My foot slipped on the break – causing him to crash into a minibus full of pensioners in Sale. He was banned from the road for 14 months.â€
Navlet Anderson
Navlet, 50, is currently standing trial at Bristol Crown Court accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after an altercation with a pedestrian and then reversing her car over her alleged victim. She too blamed her flip flops getting caught in the pedal.
Tags: Car Safety Advice, Car Safety News, Road Safety Advice, Road Safety News, Safe Roads, Safe Streets
