Driving With The Correct Footwear

Driving is an activity which requires a significant amount of effort from your feet as well as your hands and eyes. Therefore it is important that a driver wears the correct footwear in order to make the experience as comfortable and care-free as possible. As with anything, people will differ in their choices of footwear and will find that while one thing will work for them, it might not necessarily be appropriate for another.

For example some people choose to drive without any footwear entirely, stating that this option gives them greater control of the pedals. Whereas this might be true for someone, another person may find the pedals uncomfortable coming into direct contact with their feet.

Another example of how it can vary between people, is how some drivers feel comfortable wearing shoes whilst driving. However some people are completely against this and when driving to work, will purposely switch from their work shoes into more comfortable footwear like trainers. This is probably due to the fact that shoes normally come with considerably less flexibility than trainers, making drivers feels as if they have less control over the pedals. It could also be related to the lack of grip on the soles of shoes in comparison to the grip provided by trainers or other more appropriate footwear.

Examples of incorrect footwear are sandals and flip flops, this is because they can slip off whilst driving leading to a potentially dangerous situation. Therefore people are generally advised to avoid this type of footwear and any other type which may slip off during a drive. Another important factor in wearing the correct footwear is the thickness of the sole. If it is too thick, it can be difficult to judge the amount of pressure being applied to the pedals. However if it is too thin, this can reduce braking force, therefore a sole of standard thickness is advised. People can test the thickness of the soles whilst pressing the pedals in a stationary car to give them an idea of whether they are the correct footwear or not. Another example of the wrong type of footwear is heels, the reason for this being that heels can become caught underneath the pedal whilst driving leading to a very dangerous situation.

The correct type of footwear should be comfortable, have sufficient grip on the soles, be flexible and provide the right amount of support for the ankles. With driving being an everyday activity that many people take part in, this has led companies to produce specific footwear for driving. For example, ASOS, Gant and Rockport have followed this strategy. Whereas some companies have gone one step further by specifically designing footwear such as piloti-shoes, that are considered to be essential for the driving enthusiast.

With there being so many different types of footwear available, the most important factor is that a driver finds a type that they are comfortable in. However, when deciding to wear new footwear, it is advised to take a trusted pair of trainers or shoes in addition, just in case the new pair does not work out. Take care in making the right decision and driving should be trouble-free in terms of your feet.