What not to Wear when Driving

    A warning’s been issued about wearing certain items of clothing and footwear when driving.

    Maxi dresses, sunglasses, and boots, are among seven items identified by experts as dangerous and that put motorists at risk of breaking the law.

    Drivers face a £100 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points for careless driving if they’re found wearing inappropriate clothing that restricts them manoeuvring correctly.

    If an incident goes to court, the penalty could go up to a £5,000 fine, nine penalty points, and even a driving ban.

    Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that ‘the clothing and footwear chosen to wear whilst driving must not prevent the motorist from using the controls in the correct manner.’

    Long dresses could get caught underneath the pedals of a car or restrict the use of them, which is far from ideal. For the same reason, baggy jeans are likely to be unfit for driving.

    Thousands of motorists get behind the wheel in flip-flops and sliders but just how safe are they? Just remember, flip-flops are for the beach, not the driver's seat.

    The RAC says 40 percent of women say they drive in high heels and although they may look classy, high heels are not practical for the pedals.

    The advice is to use common sense and, if what you’re wearing makes your drive uncomfortable, it’s probably a sign that you should change into something more practical.

    More from Community & Charity News

    • Adrian Dening's Stars Over Somerset

      Monday 1st to Sunday 7th September 2025

    • Improved Transport Links

      Somerset could benefit from safer roads, more trains, and improved links to local employment under a range of major transport schemes proposed by the Peninsula Transport group.

    • Courier Fraud

      Avon and Somerset Police are asking jewellers, taxi and private vehicle hire drivers, for help with tackling so-called courier fraud.

    • Adrian Dening's Stars Over Somerset

      Monday 25th to Sunday 31st August 2025

    • Wheelie Bins

      Somerset Council and its waste collections contractor SUEZ are urging people not to put gas canisters in kerbside recycling bins.

    • Bus Route Changes

      Changes to Somerset bus routes have been made with new stops added and times revised.

    • False Fire Alarms

      Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says it’s dealing with an increase in false alarm calls.

    • Dog DNA

      Avon and Somerset Police are encouraging dog owners to protect their pets from theft by entering their details into a DNA doggy database.

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Light rain shower

      High: 20°C | Low: 14°C

    • Chard

      Light rain shower

      High: 17°C | Low: 13°C

    • Crewkerne

      Light rain shower

      High: 17°C | Low: 13°C

    • Somerton

      Light rain shower

      High: 20°C | Low: 13°C

    • Wincanton

      Light rain shower

      High: 20°C | Low: 13°C

    Recently Played