Oopsy!
I ran two red lights during yesterday’s driving lesson. Both instances happened when my instructor said, “The light is about to change. Prepare to stop.” So I slowed down to stop. In the next moment, he said to keep going. So I did, passing the arrow on the road just as the light changed to amber, and passing the stop line as it changed to red. Luckily, neither light had a traffic camera and no cops were around, so no fear of summons. Hah.
I have also been told to get myself a designated pair of driving shoes. I actually prefer driving with my heels, but Mr Yeo says I should be wearing flats because he claims that the occasional jerkiness that happens when I move off in first gear is a result of my shoes. He even offered to let me keep my driving shoes in his car so that I don’t have to bring them to every lesson. That’s all very well, but the question is, what is a good pair of driving shoes like? I went online and found the following tips:
- The sole of the shoe should neither be too thick or too thin. It should not be too soft or too flexible and it should have enough grip on the pedal to avoid slipping.
- It should be lightweight to enable easy movement.
- It should not hinder ankle movement in working various pedals.
- It should not be unnecessarily wide as to cause stepping on two pedals at the same time.
- Basic trainer shoes ( not the thick soled type) or plain flat shoes are best suited for driving. Not only do these provide enough feeling on the feet, these are also hard and thick enough to help you give the exact pressure needed for braking and acceleration. – From 2pass.co.uk
It looks like sneakers might be the best thing to wear for driving, although they will clash with my outfits for sure, since I usually take lessons at night after knocking off work. I’ve tried flats before and I didn’t feel they gave me as good a grip as my heels, but since Mr Yeo insists that heels are no good, I guess I’ll try sneakers next.
What shoes (if any) do you wear when you drive?
Comments (5)
As you know, I wear whatever shoes that go with my outfit for that day. I’m pretty proud that I can drive in any footwear, and a manual car at that :p
I also have an issue with shoes. I wore Birkenstocks to my first driving lesson and was told off by my instructor. I switched to sneakers after that (Ked’s) and stuck with that all the way till my test. Now that I’m a qualified driver, I keep a pair of flat loafers in the car and switch my footwear every time I drive. It’s a pain to do it all the time but I feel more comfortable that way. Most of my shoes are slip-ins or heels, which I find difficult to drive in.
whatever I wear, I will drive in it. After awhile, I will get used to the different feel of the shoes on the pedal. I used to keep a pair of old mary jane crocs in the car but found it a hassle to change shoes while driving.
I drive in whatever shoes I wear for that day, mostly heels. But if the heels are too high and get into the way, I’ll just take off my shoes and drive.
I think as long as you can still ‘feel’ the brake/accelerator through your shoes and they are not too slippery or the heels too clunky, you are fine! I usually change out of my heels into a pair of Havaianas slippers (which I keep in the car at all times) when I am at the wheel.