A quick pop to the shops in your Birkenstocks, or a short detour to the DIY store straight from the garden in your wellies. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? But are you actually allowed to drive in wellies, Birkenstocks, flip-flops, sandals or even high heels? In our guide, we explain which footwear is suitable for driving and what risks you face if you drive in the wrong footwear and are involved in a car accident.
- In principle, it is not forbidden to ride barefoot, in flip-flops, Birkenstocks or other unsuitable footwear.
- However, in the event of a road traffic accident, there is a risk that you may be required to pay a hefty sum due to a breach of your duty of care, or that your comprehensive insurance may refuse to cover the costs.
- Our tip: Wear suitable footwear to reduce the risk of accidents.
Is there a law that prohibits driving without shoes?
No. There is no statutory provision in the StVO, which requires you, as a private individual, to wear shoes when driving. In principle, you can drive in your Birkenstocks or flip-flops, or even barefoot.
But be careful: Although there is no requirement for private individuals to wear suitable footwear, this is certainly the case for professional drivers. According to BGV D29, Section 44(2), bus drivers, for example, must therefore wear footwear that fully encloses the foot in order to drive the vehicle safely. If a professional driver fails to do so, they are in breach of this regulation and may even be liable to prosecution.
Is it allowed to drive barefoot?
Driving barefoot is not strictly prohibited. However, it is not recommended, as you can very easily slip off the pedals when barefoot, thereby greatly increasing your risk of an accident. We therefore strongly advise against driving without shoes.
Driving in flip-flops, Birkenstocks, sandals and those beloved high heels
The same applies to your Birkenstocks and flip-flops. Especially when it gets warm outside and you’re wearing sandals, or you want to pop out for a quick shop in your slippers, it’s very tempting to drive in these shoes. Unfortunately, this type of footwear isn’t suitable for driving a car safely. You won’t have a firm grip on the pedals, or the straps might even get caught. High heels are also unsuitable for driving, as the heel can easily get wedged in the pedal arms. However, as driving in unsuitable footwear does not necessarily pose a risk to other road users, you will not necessarily be fined if stopped by the police.
Our tip for you: However, to prevent accidents before they happen, we advise you to keep a pair of closed-toe shoes in your car and to swap your sandals for them before setting off.
An accident whilst barefoot or wearing unsuitable footwear – what now?
The situation is quite different if you are involved in an accident whilst wearing unsuitable footwear or even barefoot. Who is to blame following an accident caused by wearing unsuitable footwear? Whilst it is not illegal to wear high heels or flip-flops on the road, road safety – and therefore mutual consideration – is the top priority.
If you were unable to operate the pedals properly whilst wearing Birkenstocks or flip-flops and this caused an accident, you may be liable for a fine for breaching your duty of care.
Note: You must also be prepared for the possibility that, following the accident, you will be questioned by the police and that the court may find you partly at fault for this breach of duty. This will also affect the willingness of the insurance companies involved to pay out!
Will the insurance company pay out in the event of an accident if I’m not wearing suitable footwear?
If you are found to be partly at fault, your own insurance company may also hold you partly liable. However, you will not lose your insurance cover entirely, as most motor insurers do not regard driving in flip-flops or Birkenstocks as negligent. In principle, your own comprehensive insurance can always make recourse claims against you or demand a higher excess on the grounds of a breach of your contractual obligations. Experience shows that whether the insurer actually takes this approach in your specific case – where you, as the policyholder, were driving whilst wearing unsuitable footwear – depends on the insurer’s willingness to be accommodating and the amount of the claim. The portion of the damage for which you are not at fault will then – as with any standard accident – be settled by the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. However, they may reduce the compensation paid to you proportionally due to your possible partial fault.
The right steps for fair claims settlement
Have you been involved in a road traffic accident through no fault of your own, but were unfortunately wearing your beloved flip-flops or Birkenstocks at the time? If so, it’s best to report it to faire-Regulierung.de as soon as possible. Here’s an overview of the tried-and-tested process for you:
- You report the accident to us risk-free and free of charge by telephone on 0800 30 111 60 or even faster online.
- Our competent team will examine your case immediately and explain how to proceed.
- The claims settlement process will be initiated; we’ll coordinate the necessary service providers – such as surveyors, garages and so on – on your behalf, so you no longer have to worry about the paperwork.
The licensed specialists from the faire-Regulierung network will carry out the necessary tasks and handle your claims for compensation with the utmost professionalism and at no risk to you.
