michael

I have just been reading a report about a woman fined for wearing her jungle wellies (flip-flops) when driving. Driving footwear apparently has to have a heel ... and I don't mean him sitting behind the wheel.
When driving longish distances I always preferred kicking my shoes off and driving in my stocking feet: more comfortable and more tactile with the car. Any thoughts?

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Val

I can remember being stopped at an accident many years ago in Scotland, I had been driving bare feet and got out to see if I could help, the policeman told me off having no shoes on

I think flip flops are dangerous for driving but then so are big boots heavy on the throttle.

I also remember my ex being stopped for driving without his shirt on, apparently it can cause distraction to other drivers

BabyHireCentre

This is definitely more than just anecdotal.
Other forums have documented evidence from those fined.
This, coupled with several threads on the subject of self funded Guardia giving out more and higher fines for all sorts recently means that we have a potentially worrying trend.

However, to be fair, they are not the safest things to control a speeding tonne of metal with...

Val

If you drive by the rules you should no reason to be worried, we have encountered quite a few road checks and always been waved through after a cursory glance. The stories I hear about "fines for all sorts" seem to be down in the more touristy areas. Here I hear about fines for no helmets, speeding, not using indication. I see campaigns for use of seat belts/crash helmets, reducing speed and alcohol level checks. All of which are to be expected and justifiable.

jawg

Well said, Val.

CDThader

The Guardia were parked up outside the car park of a busy bar. They saw a Brit stagger out of the bar, fall over. pick himself up and bounce off the wall, before trying with much difficulty to open a car door. While he was doing this a number of other vehicles had to carefully drive round him when leaving the car park. The Guardia waited, and sure enough, he eventually managed to get in the car, start it and drive slowly out onto the street.. He was stopped, breathalyzed, and to the Officers amazement, the test was negative. "The machine must be faulty" said the Officer. 'No' said the driver, "I haven't had a drink, I was the decoy".. One worth remembering.
CD

Big Vern

Flip flops are dangerous when driving because your feet can slip out of them - driving with sandals which have strap around the heel ensures this doesn't happen. It's like the law relating to driving safely in the UK and the resultant fines for people holding a can of drink or eating an apple or a sandwich - that's the law and police officers are empowered to enforce it. There's no point in whinging about it or alleging that the Guardia are picking on the Brits.

The Spanish road casualty figures are the worst in the EU and the government is under pressure to reduce them, hence the Guardia are being told to tighten up on all these things. You don't have to drive very far here to spot drivers using mobiles, motorcyclists not wearing helmets, etc. Obey the law and you have nothing to fear!

JazminesII

Well it depends on what you mean by flip flops. The “Fit Flops” are a snug file and are not dangerous and nor are some of the more robust flip flops on the other hand Stilettos and heeled boots are dangerous.........I've tried driving in them a few times and never managed more than a couple of hundred yards without swapping them for my "spare" driving shoes.

michael

I have just received this from a lady who is both prominent and well respected in the British community:

"hi again. The sags of the flip-flops. I told you of one incident where a female driver on the local bus out of Torrevieja was driving in flip-flops. Guess what! I got on the bus at my stop to go to Torrevieja and the male driver was wearing flip-flop type light sandals.
Surely there should be uniformity? These types of shoes are dangerous. People are being fined for driving in them and yet the local bus drivers, sometimes with buses jam packed full of people, are breaking the law and jeopardising the safety of their passengers.
I read your article (see Spanish News : Comment) As you say, the Spanish authorities do not need to take drastic steps to rid the area of the foreigners: They are just doing it by their attitude."

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Lenox

I was following a bus today, which stopped on a roundabout to let some people off.
Anything is possible. He must have been wearing Nikes!