Summer footwear behind the wheel
More than a third of drivers admit to wearing risky summer footwear
More than a third of motorists admit to driving in flip-flops, sliders or other open-backed footwear during the summer, according to new research from IAM RoadSmart.
The road safety charity is warning that unsuitable footwear can reduce a driver’s ability to control their vehicle and potentially increase the risk of a collision.
A survey of 1,045 motorists in July 2026 found that 35% had driven in loose-fitting or open footwear during June. Of these, 22% said they only did so on short, local journeys in hot weather, while 7% admitted wearing this type of footwear on every journey, regardless of distance or conditions.
Younger drivers were most likely to take the risk. 42% of 17–29-year-olds and 38% of 30–34-year-olds said they had driven in flip-flops or sliders during June. By comparison, 72% of drivers in their 50s and 80% of those in their 60s said they had not done so.
The research also found that women were more likely than men to drive in open-backed footwear, with 39% admitting to doing so compared with 31% of male drivers.
