Motorists face losing £5,000 because of a bizarre winter driving law. Drivers could face a huge fine and even receive penalty points for wearing their winter coats in the car - and motorists can also be hit with £5,000 fines if caught wearing winter boots while behind the wheel.
Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that footwear cannot prevent drivers' ability to correctly use controls. The RAC has suggested that you don’t wear shoes that have soles that are more than 10mm in thickness.
"You don’t want a sole that’s too soft or thin, shoes that are too heavy should be avoided, as well as those that limit ankle movement," it explained. It warned: "There are some basic guidelines you should follow when selecting footwear to drive in. Your shoe should have a sole no thicker than 10mm… … but the sole should not be too thin or soft.
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"It should provide enough grip to stop your foot slipping off the pedals, not be too heavy, not limit ankle movement and be narrow enough to avoid accidentally depressing two pedals at once." In Rule 97 of the Highway Code, drivers are warned: "Before setting off. You MUST ensure that you have a valid licence and insurance to drive the vehicle you intend to use (see Annex 3) and your vehicle is legal and roadworthy (see Annexes 3 and 6 for important vehicle maintenance and safety checks).
"You SHOULD ensure that you have planned your route and allowed sufficient time for breaks and possible delays, you have sufficient fuel or charge for your journey, especially if it includes motorway driving, you know where all the controls are and how to use them and clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner.
You SHOULD ensure that you have your mirrors and seat are adjusted correctly to ensure comfort, full control and maximum vision and head restraints are properly adjusted to reduce the risk of neck and spine injuries in the event of a collision."
