There’s a standard false impression in Australia that it’s unlawful to drive whilst you’re sporting thongs, or flip-flops as some individuals name them.
You may put on thongs and drive in AustraliaIt’s not unlawful, however they aren’t the neatest footwear for drivingYou may truly 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 may 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].
If you happen to had been to be concerned in an accident and it was discovered that you simply driving in thongs had some form of affect on the incident, it could possibly be interpreted that you simply didn’t have correct management. Additional, it could possibly be interpreted that you simply had been driving in a way negligent to different highway customers, and the fines and penalties for that aren’t small.
Opinions are combined as as to if it’s safer to drive barefoot or sporting thongs, however the underlying consideration right here is that drivers ought to put on no matter footwear is suitable, and footwear that offers them the perfect management of the car whereas driving.
Simply make certain that should you do resolve to kick off your thongs while you’re behind the wheel, that they don’t keep within the footwell close to the pedals, or within the instant neighborhood of your toes. Thongs have been recognized 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 gained’t hinder your capability 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 another footwear that is likely to be thought of a driving hazard.
Not supposed as authorized recommendation. Examine with the related roads authority in your state or territory.