Is it legal to drive in thongs (flip flops)?

Police across the country have the power to fine you for improper driving.

No, riding in loose shoes like thongs (or flip-flops for our American friends) is not illegal, but the police can still stop you for not controlling your vehicle properly.

So even though there are no traffic rules in Australia regarding wearing a thong, the police can fine you if they think you are driving badly or erratically, which would be easy to end up doing if you are trying to drive. in a traffic jam with a spanking!

This is a situation where the laws of common sense should take precedence over explicit legislation forbidding you from doing stupid things. Given that barefoot driving isn't illegal either, it would make much more sense to remove your Tropical Safety Boots and eliminate the risk of them getting tangled in the footwell or stuck under the pedals.

Many driving instructors also recommend driving with properly fastened shoes or bare feet to reduce the risk of losing control of the car due to shoes dangling in the footwell. Think how dangerous it would be to try to find and then remove a loose item while driving at high speed and in traffic!

The smart thing to do is to jump in the car, remove the straps and place them either in the passenger's footwell or behind the passenger seat on the floor, where there is no risk of them slipping off and tangling behind the pedals or distracting attention. .

While not illegal, we also can't find any mention that driving in certain shoes is excluded by insurance policies, although most Product Disclosure Statements (PDS) have a provision stating that coverage is denied if you knowingly engage in dangerous action or drive in a careless manner.

While we have never heard of a denial of damages due to the wearing of certain types of footwear, it is impossible to know every scenario for every potential accident, so we strongly recommend that you check with your insurance company for the full list of applicable exclusions in the PDS. to the product you purchased.

Since driving in a thong is not strictly illegal, we can't quote the law, which makes this myth easy to continue.

It's worth checking out this blog from a legal service provider based in Sydney that operates nationally.

This article is not intended as legal advice. You should check with your local road authorities to make sure the information written here is appropriate for your situation before driving this way.