Drivers warned summer footwear a safety hazard
Accident investigators have directly linked three crashes during the recent hot spell to drivers sporting loose summer footwear.
The problem happens during braking. Motorists’ footwear gets stuck on the mat or caught between the accelerator and brake pedal, leaving them unable to stop in an emergency.
Accident investigator George Ballard, who works for insurance firms, called for road safety warnings on flip-flops and backless sandals.
“When people drive with sandals or flip-flops the back of the footwear hangs down at an angle to their leg. So when they go for the brake their right foot gets stuck on the mat or caught between the pedals, stopping their leg from reaching the brake.
“There should be warnings on shoe boxes, or through some other means, to advise that sandals and flip-flops are not suitable footwear for driving.”
Mr Ballard said he had been able to pin the cause of three recent road accidents on the drivers’ choice of summer footwear alone.
At first, his investigations had centred on the mechanical condition of the car but he drew a blank until he learned what the drivers had on their feet.
“Everything on the car was intact but my investigations showed the cause of each one was the type of shoes the lady drivers were wearing. Many women will wear sensible shoes in the car but the whole problem with sandals or flip-flops is that there is nothing at the back of the shoe up against the heel.”
In one accident, the car rolled over when the driver was unable to stop.
The others happened at a low speed when the motorists could not stop their cars from going into a vehicle just ahead.
None of the drivers suffered serious injuries but Mr Ballard said motorists could be caught up in fatal smashes if they were unable to stop their cars in time.
“Any accident at any speed has the propensity to be fatal and if you are not in control of your car your average [chance] of avoiding a fatal accident goes out the window,” he said.
At 50kph, the average motorist will have travelled 44ft by the time they have reacted to a hazard by starting to press their brake.
Men were also at risk of accidents if they wore sandals or loose summer footwear, said Mr Ballard.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) yesterday called on motorists to ensure they wear sensible footwear while driving.
