Unsuitable footwear can play a role in car accidents according to British insurance company.
Have you ever considered how your choice of footwear could influence your ability to drive safely? It turns out some shoes can either get stuck beneath the pedals or else position the foot in a way that makes it difficult to press down on the gas or brake. The problem may be more pronounced when driving in shoes that you do not normally wear for your commute. So before you get behind the wheel in those stiletto heels and head to a holiday party, consider whether it might be smart to put on a pair of flat driving shoes instead.
Recently, a British car insurance provider decided to investigate just how much footwear might affect accidents. Following a poll of 1,055 British motorists they found:
- 1 in 9 drivers had gotten at flip flop sandal stuck under a pedal before
- 27 percent had had some kind of motoring mishap due to their footwear
- 7 percent had had a near miss or accident (and 20 percent of these continued to wear the same or similar shoes anyway)
- 60 percent admitted driving in “unsuitable” footwear such as flip flops, bare feet, stiletto heels, or wedge heels
- 10 percent of women said they drive in shoes that they have trouble walking in
- 36 percent of women and 12 percent of men carry driving shoes in the car
These findings seem consistent with prior studies that linked flip flops to an estimated 1.4 million car accidents every year. In one such study, researchers found that drivers’ reaction times for braking were adversely affected by “unsuitable” footwear. Specifically, reaction time doubled from 0.02 seconds to 0.04 seconds when drivers wore flip flops.
Have You Been in a Car Accident?
If you have been injured in a car accident, it is very important to document all aspects of the scene of the accident. This of course includes taking photos of the vehicles in their original positions following the collision. However, do not neglect to consider other contributing factors which may also need to be documented, such as any road hazards and the appearance of the other driver—especially if the person appears intoxicated or lacks appropriate footwear. Of course it will take more than poor footwear choice to prove that a driver is liable for an accident, but every bit of evidence has the potential to help.
After documenting the scene of your accident and getting medical care for anyone who needs it, be sure to reach out to an experienced car accident attorney like Fernando D. Vargas for further assistance with any car accident injury claims.
