There’s a typical false impression in Australia that it’s unlawful to drive whilst you’re carrying thongs, or flip-flops as some individuals name them.
- You’ll be able to put on thongs and drive in Australia
- It’s not unlawful, however they aren’t the neatest footwear for driving
- You would possibly really be higher off barefoot
That’s not true. It’s completely authorized so that you can put on your three-pluggers whilst you’re driving – however it’s not essentially the neatest factor you are able to do on the highway.
Thongs will be harmful to drive in. Your foot isn’t enclosed, you usually have much less grip on the pedals, and due to their elasticated nature you would possibly discover the strap of the thong can get caught the place it shouldn’t.
The Australian Highway Guidelines e book – not a legally binding annotation on car legal guidelines, however the tips by which many jurisdictions make their legal guidelines – has a particular part about “driving with out correct management of the car” [Rule 297].
For those who have been to be concerned in an accident and it was discovered that you just driving in thongs had some form of influence on the incident, it might be interpreted that you just didn’t have correct management. Additional, it might be interpreted that you just have been driving in a fashion negligent to different highway customers, and the fines and penalties for that aren’t small.
Opinions are blended as as to whether it’s safer to drive barefoot or carrying thongs, however the underlying consideration right here is that drivers ought to put on no matter footwear is acceptable, and footwear that provides them the most effective management of the car whereas driving.
Simply make certain that when you do determine to kick off your thongs if you’re behind the wheel, that they don’t keep within the footwell close to the pedals, or within the speedy neighborhood of your ft. Thongs have been identified to slide beneath the brake pedal and restrict the quantity of management of the motive force to brake for hazards, in some circumstances.
The best choice for anybody driving a automotive is to put on footwear that received’t hinder your potential to manage the automotive or restrict your driving in any means. In that case, it’s greatest to not put on thongs, excessive heels or some other footwear that may be thought of a driving hazard.
Not meant as authorized recommendation. Test with the related roads authority in your state or territory.
