Driving in thongs

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Driving in thongs

Possum3 · Guru

It doesn't help when TV personalities like Simon & Jason on All 4 Adventure wear them whilst they are showing how to do it - not.

rgren2 · Guru

I dont wear shoes mostly when driving, put my thongs on when I step out though. The bitumen gets a bit warm on the feet.

2weis · Senior Member

old and grey
you may not like it but it is not ILLEGAL.
Driving in Thongs What the Law Says

from one of many hits on google for QLD

Technically, it is not illegal to drive wearing thongs. Having said that, you need to keep in mind that if an accident does occur while youre behind the wheel, and it is deemed that inappropriate footwear was a contributing factor, then you could be in line for a Traffic Offence.

While theyre not illegal, it needs to be noted that thongs just dont provide the best grip on the pedals. Theres also the risk of them getting jammed underneath the pedals. Why risk your own safety and that of others on the road?

Brian

Corndoggy · Senior Member

If I have thongs on they come off to drive. I would expect that no one would be that dumb to drive with them on, but I could be wrong.

Jaahn · Guru

Hi smile

Well I have done a lot of Kms in thongs. I worked several stints in the tropics and everyone wears thongs. Shoes just rot your feet and the modern synthetic rubbish is worse. Actually the shoes rot anyway aww I would say more people in the world drive in thongs that not. Just because you do not know how to do it safely that does not make your ideas right !! IMHO

That silly argument about IF THEY FIND YOUR SHOES CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT applies to anything you do including looking at the speedo excessively, or studying the transmission temperature gauge as you drive ! biggrin

Jaahn

Whenarewethere · Guru

Corndoggy wrote:
If I have thongs on they come off to drive. I would expect that no one would be that dumb to drive with them on, but I could be wrong.

I keep telling wife that she shouldn't drive with them on!

Plain Truth · Guru

Thongs- " Queensland's safety boots"

Keith P · Senior Member

I drove trucks for years with bare feet...that is until bloody OH&S Nazis decreed that I wear steel capped boots when loading / unloading on site...they came off pretty quick when a I got back behind the wheel tho. There was always a pair of thongs on the floor half under the seat tho. I have lost count of the times that something was beginning to happen with the rig tho...( blowout....uni getting dry....front wheel bearing ...trailer wheel nuts loosening a tad....etc etc...) by the tone of the floor changing very slightly by feeling it through the soles of my feet....way before any noises or change in gauges etc. I used to tell the boss that the feet saved him a motza at times....but I dont think he caught it anyway. Plus on long days...it is way more comfortable....I still tow/drive with bare feet now. But there is usually a pair of sneakers or joggers about... as well as the mandatory thongs.

Cheers Keith

aussie_paul · Guru

Aussie Paul. smile

Greg 1 · Guru

They are not illegal in WA either nor is driving in bare feet, but as per a previous poster, you can be charged if you have an accident and your choice of footwear or lack thereof is believed to have contributed to the accident and your loss of control of the vehicle. I must admit that I am not a fan of the Japanese working boot or bare feet for driving. I believe that proper footwear can contribute to better control of the vehicle. I am not a fan of women driving in high heels either. For those that want good feel there is plenty of really good driving shoes such as Puma Speedcats that are a little more robust than pure racing boots with similar feel. For those that have issues with moisture there are very good boots with things like Goretex lining to take care of that. Whilst a lot of you have grown up with the old thong as being a part of Aussie footwear, the world has moved on a bit and safety is one of those things that have taken some giant strides. I am not in favour of safety rules that really are nonsense and are just justifying some high paid safety officers existent, but things that actually do contribute to a safer environment I am all for it, and I believe that driving in suitable footwear is one of those.

Trevor 57 · Senior Member

let's be clear here, there NO law against driving in thongs, otherwise women in more fashionable versions (and more expensive) of thongs would be in trouble too

JayDee · Guru

Have always referred to Thongs as

"Chinese Riding Boots."

I much prefer to wear good quality sandals in the summertime when out and about, but I do wear those cheap Chinese Riding Boots around the yard. But never whilst using the mower.

Jay&Dee

Dougwe · Chief one feather

That's not what you told me JayDee, you told me to always ring first when visiting as you both might be out gardening.

In the nuddies!

Keep Safe on the roads and out there ( and when gardening in the nuddies)

Dougwe · Chief one feather

These days I tend to only wear thongs/flip flops when using public showers and around teepee but 'sneakers' at other times including driving. I do have boots if needed.

Mobi Condo · Guru

'Fraid to say that over the last 6-12 months, I have gone thongs when driving.

Always a staunch "that may be legal BUT definitely safe" man, even though nearly every Truckee at rest stops got out in Jackie Howell singlet, stubbies, and thongs. As already mentioned the Simon and Jason and what about the older guy in 4x4 shows who always had to do camp fire cooking stints in his thongs!

However due to foot health problems from a LIFE of fully covered foot wear for work and CFS Volunteering, which has rendered my feet and toes pretty ugly, uncomfortable and continually sore, I have begun to feel benefit from FRESH Air around my tootsies.

Would now love to go bare foot but for the perils of life in the bush.

Must add that recent visits to a Podiatrist is starting to assist me to have better feet now.

-- Edited by Mobi Condo on Friday 15th of January 2021 08:26:45 AM

Wanda · Guru

Old and Grey : Are you talking about "drivers" or "riders" as you mention bike in your post.
Big difference in driving in thongs, no law against it, not really a problem in my opinion.
BUT
Riding a motor bike in thongs, you would have to be an idiot, again only my opinion
regards
Ian

diggerop · Senior Member

I prefer thongs and then take them off. Nothing better than barefoot driving.

Craig1 · Guru

very flexible A P

RichardK · Senior Member

I wear both thongs and casual shoes, the thong that is most dangerous is the "surfer" type thong, they are wide and in my tug easily get caught between the brake and accelerator when taking my foot off the accelerator for braking.

Cheers
RichardK

darjak · Senior Member

When riding motorcycles full gear, BUT anything else I call them Japanese Riding boots (thongs)
Even when laying bricks until wh&s changed that. Still rock hop and everything else in thongs.
Only drawbacks is can only fit into 4E wide high shoes due to non restrictiveness of feet over
60+yrs before that only bare feet. if you talk to an orthopaedic surgeon he will tell you that thongs are the best way
to go as you you strengthen all the muscles and have less problems.
Just my two

Darjak

Tony Bev · Guru

The distance between the accelerator and brake pedal, on the Fiat Ducato, is fairly narrow

If you have large feet, you will not be able to wear shoes, while driving

Trevor 57 · Senior Member

as a little bit of an 'plug' for a good Aussie manufacturing company, there is a Aussie business making the great RUBBER things we wll remember form the 60's and 70's, they are not cheap, but they are good - www.thongsaustralia.com/about (NOT www.thongs.com.au)

-- Edited by Trevor 57 on Saturday 16th of January 2021 04:38:51 AM

watsea · Guru

Ah, I get it. This topic is about the Aussie version of thongs smile

Woody n Sue · Guru

Im with corndoggy on this one

Wizardofoz · Guru

JayDee wrote:
Have always referred to Thongs as
"Chinese Riding Boots."
I much prefer to wear good quality sandals in the summertime when out and about, but I do wear those cheap Chinese Riding Boots around the yard. But never whilst using the mower.
Jay&Dee

Actually, the original Thongs came from JAPAN.

Jaahn · Guru

Wizardofoz wrote:
JayDee wrote:
Have always referred to Thongs as
"Chinese Riding Boots."
I much prefer to wear good quality sandals in the summertime when out and about, but I do wear those cheap Chinese Riding Boots around the yard. But never whilst using the mower.
Jay&Dee
Actually, the original Thongs came from JAPAN.

Hmm, YES and called zorries biggrin

Jaahn

JayDee · Guru

WOW!!!! there you go I just learnt something today.

Will now refer to thongs as Japanese Riding Boots.

Jay&Dee

elliemike · Guru

When I was at sea in the sixties Thongs ( called flip flops in the UK) were very common footwear by sailors who of course brought them home with them to Liverpool from their travels.

From Asia or especially West Coast of Africa. The African ones were all made from old Tyre Treads. I bought a pair like these in 1967 in Monrovia and wore them for a week before consigning them to the South Atlantic.

Not my type of footwear at all, and I still find Jandal's, Thongs, Flip Flops, Plakkies, uncomfortable.

Bare feet or enclosed footwear are my choice.

Pin on tires

Bobdown · Guru

Wizardofoz wrote:
JayDee wrote:
Have always referred to Thongs as
"Chinese Riding Boots."
I much prefer to wear good quality sandals in the summertime when out and about, but I do wear those cheap Chinese Riding Boots around the yard. But never whilst using the mower.
Jay&Dee
Actually, the original Thongs came from JAPAN.

X2.............Japanese Safety Boots smile smile