With the high summer heat, it’s tempting to drive in flip-flops or flip-flops. But what happens in the event of a police check?
No need to live by the sea to prefer to wear open shoes when the thermometer flirts with 30 degrees. But going out in flip-flops or flip-flops involves certain practices that are not necessarily always suitable, such as driving a car. And it must be said, having your feet in the air when you find yourself in the furnace of a cabin is still much more pleasant than wearing closed shoes.
Many motorists are tempted, especially to reach the beach at the risk of turning their vehicle into a sandbox at the end of the day. But among them, few know what they are exposing themselves to by driving in flip-flops or flip-flops, or even barefoot.
Does the Highway Code prohibit it? If we refer to article R412-6, it is stated that ”every driver must be constantly in a condition and in a position to carry out conveniently and without delay all the maneuvers for which he is responsible.” There is therefore no formal ban on driving with open shoes, such as flip-flops or flip-flops, but the fact remains that they must not interfere with driving. It’s all a matter of interpretation.
Thus, in the event of an inspection, the police have the possibility of verbalizing a motorist if they consider that their shoes are likely to cause dangerous behavior. 2nd class, the fine is 35 euros, reduced to 22 euros in the event of payment within 15 days and increased to 75 euros beyond the 45-day period. However, it cannot lead to the deduction of points on the driving licence.
But beware, the consequences can be much more serious in the event of an accident. The fact of driving in flip-flops or bare feet can indeed be considered as an aggravating circumstance, with the risk for the driver of being prosecuted for deliberately endangering others. It’s not uncommon for police to see one vehicle lose control and crash into another due to a flip-flop getting stuck under the accelerator pedal…
And the troubles may not end there. If the driver responsible for a traffic accident does not wear shoes suitable for driving, his insurance company has the right to consider that he is (double) at fault. Thus, even if he has an all-risk contract, the insurance has the possibility of relying on article R412-6 (seen above) to decide not to compensate his insured. There, the short trip in flip-flops is likely to turn into a huge hole in the bank account…
