Never Wear These 9 Clothing Items When Driving, Safety Experts Warn

By Debra
January 14, 2024

Taking all safety measures while driving is primordial, or at least it should be, according to road safety experts. Unfortunately, a lot of drivers do not take the necessary precautions to ensure safe driving. According to data released by the National Traffic Safety Administration, every year in the United States, around 1.5 million people die in car accidents with 20-50 million left disabled.

Most drivers know the basic rules of driving: no driving under the influence, the seatbelt is mandatory no matter what, mobile phones should not be used when driving, allow other drivers space for maneuvers, etc..

It is important, if not crucial, to follow all of them. But did you know there is another rule just as important that could determine your safe arrival to the destination? The way you dress while behind the wheel.

That’s right! According to road safety experts, clothes do matter. Read on to find out what clothing items are a definite no-go while driving and could pose a real threat to your safety and the safety of other passengers or fellow drivers.

Clothing items you should never wear while driving:

Flip-flops

The decision is unanimous: all road safety experts agree that flip-flops or loose sandals are among the most dangerous items one could wear behind the wheel. Sure, flip-flops are beyond comfortable and are easy to put on but should never be worn while driving.

“Flip-flops lack proper grip and can easily slip off the pedals, compromising control over the vehicle,” says Lucas Waldenback, co-founder of Zutobi Drivers Ed. More than that, rather than helping you hit the brakes as soon as possible should the situation arise, their lack of support blocks your foot from doing so, say experts from Suffolk Foot & Ankle.

The situation in which your foot slips off the brake or you hit the wrong pedal is called “pedal error”. These are serious mistakes that could end up with dramatic consequences. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 16.000 car accidents are caused by pedal errors annually.

High heels

Similar to flip-flops, high heels are not the most suitable footwear for drivers. The added “bonus” is that high heels make your foot press on a dangerously high point of the pedal, not controlling it properly.

“High heels can impede the ability to apply consistent pressure on the pedals, making it harder to brake or accelerate smoothly,” warns Waldenback. So, ladies, next time you’re thinking of going behind the wheel in your high heels, just don’t! Opt for having a spare pair of sneakers in your car, to prevent unwanted situations.

Extremely layered or bulky coats

Waldenback warns that bulky clothing items or clothes with too many layers prevent drivers from moving freely and obstruct their reactions in emergency situations. “They can also create too much space between you and the seatbelt, reducing its effectiveness,” says John Lin, the owner of JB Motor Works, a car repair shop in Philadelphia, PA.

Either wear a more fitted jacket or undress in the car in an appropriate sweatshirt or blouse that does not restrict your movement. Appropriate clothing items do make a difference, so dress for the ride.

Hoodies

Apart from their bulkiness, hoodies can also turn into dangerous clothing items during driving because of their loose drawstrings. As explained by Waldenback, the hoodie’s strings can get tangled up in the steering wheel or gear shifter, distracting the driver, and thus increasing the risk of accidents.

More than that, a hoodie worn while driving can block the driver’s peripheral vision during turning or merging, which, in turn, can lead to vehicular accidents.

clothing-items-driving — Photo by FTiare on Shutterstock

Restrictive clothing items

Clothing items that are too tight and restrictive are also not recommended by road safety experts when driving. That’s because they “can limit your range of motion, reducing your ability to turn, check blind spots, or make necessary maneuvers,” warns Waldenback.

Therefore, clothes such as skinny jeans, tight skirts or shorts, could restrict leg movement, hindering the driver’s ability to switch from gas to brake in emergencies, adds Lin.

Hats and scarves

Oversized accessories such as “chunky jewelry or wide-brimmed hats” should also be avoided when going behind the wheel as they can block one’s view and cause blind spots. According to Stanley Hawkin, an automotive safety expert with Vehicle Chef, these accessories, in particular, have an increased risk of distracting the driver and causing accidents: long scarves.

Log scarves, similar to hoodie drawstrings, can get tangled up with the steering wheel or other controls, leading to sudden movements of the driver and subsequently, the vehicle. Needless to say, sudden and unexpected movements are never a good thing in traffic and could result in tragedy.

Headphones

Another item that could turn an innocent ride into a tragedy is headphones. Indeed, they do not take up much space, but they do hinder the driver’s ability to pay attention to traffic and hear horns and other warning signals.

Experienced drivers might say that it’s enough to keep your eyes on the road to have a safe ride, but there are plenty of auditory warnings one should also pay attention to. As explained by Robert Muñoz, a driving expert and founder of SensibleMotive, it might be a police siren, or “the rumble of an 18-wheeler in your blind spot”, there are numerous situations when making use of your hearing, not only your vision, can save your life.

Sunglasses during low-light hours

It’s true that on sunny days, sunglasses can help you have a better view of the road, without the sun shining brightly and blinding you. On the other hand, wearing sunglasses when it’s cloudy can turn into a less than pleasant situation.

Just as glasses can increase visibility in bright conditions, they can also reduce it in low light hours, making the road even “darker” than it already is. Literally and figuratively!

Shoes with thick soles

Apart from flip-flops and shoes with high heels, there’s another category of footwear that could lead to a chain of unfortunate events. Sneakers or boots with thick soles, warns Lin, can also be dangerous when going behind the wheel.

The explanation is that this type of footwear “can create a buffer between you and the pedals, diminishing the tactile feedback that helps you gauge how much pressure to apply”. Not wearing such footwear is a useful preventative advice that many road safety experts give to drivers, experienced or otherwise, to prevent car accidents.