Can You Drive Wearing Thick or Medium-Heeled Shoes?
2 Answers
Driving while wearing thick or medium-heeled shoes is not recommended. Here are the reasons: Reason: When pressing the clutch or brake, flat shoes with thin and soft soles do not hinder foot sensitivity, whereas high heels do. While driving, the movement and stopping of the car, the speed adjustments, and the operation of the clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals all rely on the feet. High heels generally come in three types: stiletto, wedge, and thick platform heels. Regardless of the pedal type, wearing any of these shoes while driving poses safety risks. Additionally, if there are floor mats in the car, the heel of the shoe might pull the mat under the pedal, making it impossible to press. Safety hazards: Women's footwear varies widely, including not only high heels but also platform shoes, snow boots, and sandals. In hot weather, some even drive barefoot. Platform shoes, though different in style from high heels, pose similar risks while driving due to their thick, inflexible soles, which severely impair pedal feel and make it difficult to gauge pedal depth.
Last time I wore 5cm chunky-heel loafers while driving and almost had an accident—the heel got stuck in the gap of the accelerator pedal, making it impossible to move my foot. Although chunky heels are more stable than stilettos, the thick sole reduces foot sensitivity, requiring more force to brake, which can easily lead to insufficient braking in emergencies. Once, I had to brake suddenly in the rain while wearing these shoes, and my foot slipped inside the shoe, causing a half-second delay—I still feel scared thinking about it. A traffic police friend also mentioned they've handled many rear-end collisions caused by high heels getting stuck in pedals, suggesting keeping flat shoes in the car for driving. Now, I always keep a pair of canvas shoes in the trunk—safety is something you really can't afford to be careless about.
