How wearing these clothes or shoes could earn you a £5K fine or road ban 

With summer just around the corner and forecasters predicting a welcome slice of sunshine, life just feels a little carefree… and so do our clothes.

But drivers shouldn’t get too comfortable in their loose-fitting summer clothes, those flip-flops and long skirts could put them on the wrong side of the law.

Here’s a list of all the clothes and shoes that could lead to a fine of £5,000, points on the driver’s license or even a driving ban.

De-layering while driving

Taking off clothes behind the wheel may seem like a necessary chore to cool down, but it could get you a fine.

Motorists could even face fines of up to £5,000 for removing layers of clothing behind the wheel if it gets too hot.

If you are stopped for delay, the police can fine you £100 on the spot and three demerit points for careless driving.

But if the incident goes to court, the fine for careless and attentive driving could lead to fines of up to £2,500, or £5,000 in extreme cases, with motorists even receiving demerit points and a potential driving ban.

According to the highway code, drivers must keep their vehicle well ventilated to prevent drowsiness and keep the temperature cool, while the clothing and footwear worn while driving should not prevent the driver from using the controls properly.

Flip flops

While flip flops provide comfort and convenience, they are not considered a particularly good choice of footwear for drivers.

So much so that the highway code advises against wearing them while driving due to the risk of them slipping over the pedals or getting caught underneath.

And while wearing flip-flops isn’t illegal, the consequences of doing so could land you a hefty fine if they lead you to dangerous driving.

Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that the footwear and clothing you choose to wear should not prevent you from properly using the controls of the vehicle.

It specifically says, “Footwear will not prevent you from using the controls properly.”

The careless driving offense carries a £100 fine and three penalty points on your licence.

In a more serious case, or if challenged in court, the charge could carry a fine of up to £5,000, up to nine demerit points and even a court-ordered driving ban.

And under Rule 97 of the Highway Code, items that could prevent you from using the controls properly include baggy jeans and long dresses, which can also get you fined.

• A long skirt or dressS – When it comes to wearing this type of clothing while driving, you could get a fine and even demerit points on your driver’s license. The material can snag under the pedals or limit your use of them, which is of course far from ideal.
• Very wide jeans – If your jeans are too wide, they are probably not suitable for driving, which means you could be penalized.
• High heels – Your footwear should not restrict your ankle movement. While they may look stylish, high heels are simply not practical for the pedals.

Choose your sunglasses wisely

Drivers can be fined for not wearing sunglasses, as well as for wearing the wrong pair of sunglasses behind the wheel.

According to the AA, depending on the glass in sunglasses, they can be dangerous to drive.

You can wear sunglasses while driving. It is not a legal requirement to do this in clear weather, but the police may still say that you are ‘driving carelessly and attentively’.

It’s not clear how likely you are to be fined, but it’s worth noting that the highway code says that if you’re blinded by bright sunlight, you should slow down and stop if necessary.

Since glare is one of the leading causes of accidents, drivers should wear sunglasses if appropriate.

They shouldn’t be too dark and shouldn’t be a style that can obstruct your peripheral vision as this can also get you in trouble with the law.

The AA website states: ‘Sunglasses sold for general use may be too dark to drive in. Plus, fashionable frames can hinder your peripheral vision if they’re not styled properly, so it’s best to choose your shades carefully.”

Either way, motorists must be attentive to drive carefully and attentively in all conditions.

Riding barefoot

As with flip flops, driving barefoot is also not illegal, but again it is strongly discouraged by driving experts.

The Driving Standards Agency states that suitable shoes are vital when behind the wheel.

They do not recommend anyone to ride barefoot as they do not have the same braking power as compared to wearing shoes.