Can you wear boots while driving? Do boots give you good control in driving, and is it safe?
Boots have thick soles that don’t let you feel the pedals comfortably. And it’s hard to move your ankles in boots. So they are not the best shoes for driving.
When driving, drivers need to use footwear that gives them full control of the pedals. Otherwise, they might face minor or big accidents.
To ensure that your footwear is safe for driving, you need to make sure that it has soles that aren’t too thick. This is because you need to be able to feel the pedals through the soles. And you need to also feel the pressure you put on the pedals through the soles.
If you wear thicker soles, it will put more weight on the pedals and cause problems in keeping your ankles relaxed.
Are Boots Good for Driving?
Boots aren’t the ideal footwear for driving. They aren’t comfortable a lot of the time and won’t give your feet enough space to move your ankle, which is a must for driving.
There are a few guidelines that you need to follow when you’re choosing shoes for driving. Let’s look at these guidelines:
- The soles of your shoes shouldn’t be any thicker than 10 mm.
- But your soles shouldn’t be way too thin or even too soft.
- Your shoes need to be able to provide you with enough grip so that your feet don’t slip off your pedals.
- The shoes shouldn’t be too heavy.
- And your shoes shouldn’t limit the movement of your ankles.
- The shoes shouldn’t be so wide that it depresses the two pedals at the same time accidentally.
All of these make your boots unsuitable for driving. So you should consider wearing different shoes for driving or changing your footwear when you’re driving.
This is why I don’t wear boots when I ride.
Is It Illegal to Drive in Boots?
Depending on where you live, it can be illegal to wear boots for driving. Even though people wear boots in winter and tend to drive in them, it’s not suitable for driving.
If you’re not stopped by police and can drive without any occurrence, no one will be bothered by what footwear you’re driving with.
However, if you aren’t careful enough and stumble into an accident, police can take one look at your boots and fine you for it. Somehow, if it goes to court, you might face a bigger fine.
Tony Martinez explains the proper shoes to wear while driving
How Hard Is It to Drive With a Boot?
It can be quite hard to drive with any kind of boots. Whether it’s because you can’t maneuver your ankle comfortably or accidentally put pressure on both of the pedals, it’s going to be difficult to drive wearing boots.
Control isn’t just important when it comes to your footwear. It’s also important for driving against elements like wet or icy roads. And in winter, you will face these elements.
If you wear boots because of the cold weather, you’ll also face icy or wet roads ahead of you. This will make it even harder for you to maneuver your vehicle while wearing boots.
Is Driving Barefoot Better Than Shoes/ Boots?
Driving barefoot is never better than wearing shoes or boots. Being barefoot when you’re driving is not only going to be difficult to control your vehicle but also dangerous, which can lead to accidents. And you might even face fines for driving barefoot.
It can compromise your ability to control your vehicle, as your feet can easily slip off your pedals at any given time.
Shoes provide enough grip for the feet to not cause any slips. But, if you’re barefoot, your feet will slip. They can slip while you’re putting pressure on the pedals, which can lead to dangerous accidents.
If you are not able to put enough pressure because you are barefooted, it can also lead to different accidents.
This is why do not ever drive barefoot, even if you are wearing shoes that are not appropriate for driving.
Final Words
Driving with boots is not the most appropriate way to drive. Boots are not the best footwear for driving.
So you should wear driving shoes or sneakers for driving, or change your shoes if you are already wearing boots. However, do not drive barefoot.