How to Drive with Work Boots

Putting on the wrong kind of work boots can often cause a pedal error as a result of your boots slipping off the surface of your brakes or accelerator pedal.

In fact, you might make the mistake of hitting the brakes when you are supposed to hit the accelerator. This could lead to accidents and may result in the loss of lives and properties.

So, to drive with your work boots on, it is important to ensure that the work boots have all the necessary features that make them comfortable and less hazardous to drive in.

What you should note on how you can drive with your workboots

I have them fully spelled out here;

Ensure your workboot is anti-slip with a strong grip for traction

This feature somewhat refers to the soles of your work boots. When in search of a shoe that is suitable for driving, you must make sure to have a slip-resistant pair; one with a very strong grip as driving without these features in your shoes could be really dangerous.

You know, it is easy for the feet to want to slip off the pedals, but with a pair of work boots that has a strong grip and is slip-resistant, your feet are sure to remain on the pedal, reducing the possibility of an accident.

Not all work boots have a really strong grip, hence, the need to consciously look out for one with this feature.

Your work boots must be waterproof to prevent slippery surfaces

A pair of waterproof work boots is it! It helps keep your feet dry and cool, knowing full well that when your feet are wet, they have the entire tendency to slip, thus, leading to a collision as you drive.

Therefore, getting a pair of waterproof work boots contribute to helping you drive with utmost safety.

Must be made of strong and durable materials to evenly distribute force between your boots and the pedals

Footwear made of less quality materials doesn’t make driving any better. To drive in work boots, they need to be made of quality materials such as soles strong enough to protect you from injuries as you drive.

Outsoles must be made from an abrasion-resistant rubber material, amongst others.

Workboots must possess arch support to prevent pain from a long-distance driving

A pair of work boots which offer you the necessary Arch support is very much needful whilst driving. The Arch support is gotten from the sort of insoles found in your pair of shoes.

What this does is that it helps prevent/reduce pain after long hours of driving or putting the work boots on. Simply put, it breeds comfort!

Work boots must have steel toes to protect your toes when driving

This helps in protecting the toes as they make the most traditional form of protective toe caps. Steel toes are usually needed in shoes for driving, and a pair of work boots with this feature only keeps you safe.

All of the features listed above, once found in your work boots, makes them suitable for driving. Who says you can’t drive in your work boots already?

How do all of these features affect how you drive?

Comfort

Imagine putting on a pair of uptight shoes, you’re definitely going to be left uncomfortable right in your feet. Driving with such a pair of shoes is really dangerous, which is why when you intend to drive with your work boots, you should see that they are comfy to walk in at least.

At this, driving in them will be filled with comfort; they shouldn’t get in the way of your ability to operate the car.

Safety

The safety of your work boots pervades all of the features of the work boots. A pair of work boots fitted with the appropriate toe protection material is very much important; it could be steel toes, aluminum toes, or composite toes.

They all give your feet/toes good support and protect you from injuries.

Evenly distribution of force across the board to prevent hazardous driving

Your workboots must be securely fastened to your feet so that you can match on the pedals effectively and help you to evenly distribute force between your feet and the pedals. It is important that the workboot hugs your feet in a rigid way and also still allow for you to move your footwell as freely as flexibly as possible.

Why wearing the right driving boot is important

The wearing of work boots according to reports and what we see happen is said to be more common with Truck Drivers. This however does not rule out the fact that normal Car Drivers also drive in work boots, although it may be dangerous for them.

Many of us have been in a situation whereby we’re heading somewhere, perhaps with high heels (for ladies) or slippery-soled men’s dress shoes (for men), and we then get in the car to drive. While those shoes actually look great with our outfit, they may not be the best choice at all for the purpose of driving.

It is important to note that wearing the wrong kind of shoes when you’re behind the wheel could lead to what is called ‘pedal error’ – a situation where your foot sporadically slips off either the brake or the accelerator pedal, or you placing your foot on the wrong pedal, both of which could eventually cause a crash.

According to the National Safety Council in their report, they estimated that about 42,060 people died in car crashes in 2020. This indeed is an 8% increase in the number of car crashes in 2019. You should read more about this report HERE.

Of course, the right kind of shoes can help prevent this sort of incident. While you won’t always wear the right kind of shoes for driving when you’re heading out on a date to complement your looks (as you may decide to put on what matches your outfit), I recommend keeping a pair of shoes in your car, specifically for driving.

At this, you can always change into them once it is time to drive, and once after driving, the other pair returns to your feet.

You may now begin to ask… What type of work boots are best suitable for driving in my Car?

Generally, driving shoes are meant to attach securely to the foot, as well as have flat soles with adequate traction. This allows you evenly distribute force across the surface of the sole and then to the car’s pedals.

It’s not that some of these shoes are totally bad for driving; they are just ‘not so great’ when it comes to driving Cars. However, they can always be worn when it comes to driving trucks; one of such is work boots. Here’s why…

For truck drivers, a pair of long-lasting and comfortable work boots is needing, depending on the sort of work they do on and off the truck, as a pair of good work boots help protect the feet from the ground underneath, and anything at all that has the ability to fall and injure the feet.

A high-quality work boot is sure to lend to more productivity and efficiency throughout the day at the workplace, by implication, making such workers stand out in the midst of their peers.

It as well gives more confidence to the wearer whilst they are yet working; is it hauling, driving, or moving items on and off the truck?

While there are many different choices to select from when it comes to purchasing work boots, it could be pretty difficult to determine which brand is going to turn out to serve you best.

While the color of the work boots may be important to some persons, several other features that assure protection and durability are actually more important.

Take a look at some work boots I recommend below. These work boots have all of the necessary features!

Caterpillar Men’s Work Boots

Made of 100% leather, the Caterpillar Men’s Work Boots is an ankle-cut work boot with steel toe, as well as a padded ankle and an oil-resistant outsole.

Pros:

• Steel toe
• Electrical Hazards protection
• Slip-resistant
• Stability
• Durability and flexibility
• Comfort
• It offers Arch support as well

It’s incredibly great! Yeah? Hit the PURCHASE link right now!

EVER BOOTS Men’s Leather Work Boots

The EVER BOOTS Men’s Leather Work Boots come built with an insulated mesh lining which helps in consistently keeping your feet warm and comfortable, not minding how long the day is at work. Reassuringly, it is designed with the toughest construction.

Pros:

• Durability
• Comfortable
• Anti-fatigue
• Easy to wear
• Waterproof

Reviews on Amazon lend veracity to the amazing features of this pair of work boots. See the link below to purchase yours!

PURCHASE

NORTIV 8 Men’s Military Tactical Work Boots

With soles made of rubber material, the NORTIV 8 Men’s Military Tactical Work Boots is durable and as well breathable as it’s got breathable fabric that keeps your feet cool and dry. It also offers you protection and convenience. What more could be wanted?

Asides from the fact that it could be used by truck drivers and perhaps, normal car drivers who can be careful, it could as be used for both indoor and outdoor activities, thus, giving you value for your money.

Pros:

• Protection & convenience
• Durability
• Dynamic 3-sole system
• Perfect for outdoor and indoor activities
• Side zipper construction
• Durable MD Midsole
• Foam padded collar
• Arch support
• Slip-resistant

Why the wait? Hit the PURCHASE link already! Don’t sleep on it!

Thorogood Men’s American Heritage

Made in the US, the Thorogood Men’s American Heritage is a top-notch and promising pair of work boots. Not restricted for use by truck drivers alone, it is wearable by different categories of workers such as ironworkers, electricians, utility linemen, amongst others.

Pros & Features:

• Polyurethane MAXwear Wedge sole
• Removable ultimate shock absorption footbed on Poron comfort cushion insole
• Composite shank
• Long-lasting
• Slip-resistant outsole
• Goodyear storm welt construction

Click the link to PURCHASE yours NOW!

What shoes are you not allowed to drive in the US, UK, and Canada?

Shoes to avoid wearing while driving:

• Flip flops and mules
• House shoes
• Wedges
• High heels
• Brand new shoes – There is the possibility of an unsure foot-to-pedal relationship when it comes to driving with brand new shoes as their soles could be slick and slippery.
• Work boots – Work boots are usually large! Large boots are prone to causing obstruction whilst you drive; and the larger the boots, the trickier it is to drive in them. This is why I recommend work boots for truck drivers alone.
• Cowboy boots – While Cowboy boots have adequate soles, the raised heel they have may cause interference between the pedals as you drive.
• No shoes at all (barefoot) – In the US, there is no single federal law that governs driving as each state has its own laws, and none of them makes it unlawful to drive barefoot. As a matter of fact, it is legal to drive barefoot in all 50 states in the US, Canada, as well as the UK. There’s however an exception for motorcycles in Alabama where it is required to operate a motorcycle with footwear, but definitely not a Car!

Here’s what I have to say on the legality of driving barefooted – Either in the US, UK, or Canada, it is not unlawful to drive barefoot as no particular law states so or otherwise.

However, I do not recommend driving barefoot. This is because the braking force that is exerted with the bare feet isn’t the same as exerted with shoes on. It is important to have a good base and grip to apply pressure to the pedals, but you require a certain degree of finesse to manipulate the controls.

There is no particular law in the UK or in Canada that makes it illegal to drive in any type of shoes. However, wearing certain types of footwear could land you in trouble whilst you’re yet driving.

The Driving Standard Agency states that it is important to wear ‘suitable shoes’ when behind the wheel so as to avoid any form of accidents.

If you are stopped by the Cops as a result of careless driving, and it is deemed footwear being the cause, you could be issued a verbal warning alongside advice as to what to do.

More serious cases where a driver seems to represent danger against other road users, such driver may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). This may be non-endorsable (no penalty points), thus a levy of £50 is placed on such driver or an endorsable FPN which has penalty points added to a drivers’ license and a fine of £100.

More severe cases could involve careless driving.

In the case of an accident resulting from inappropriate footwear, disenabling the driver from maintaining control of the vehicle, an insurance company may only make part payments on the grounds that the driver actively contributed to the accident.

A list of unapproved shoes while driving

• Wellingtons
• Stiletto heels
• Wedges
• Chunky trainers
• Chunky sandals
• Knee and thigh high boots
• Cowboy boots
• Gladiator sandals
• Workmen boots

A list of approved shoes for driving

• Classic trainer or running shoe
• Sturdy ‘ballet’ flat slip-on
• Desert boots
• Brogues
• Boat shoes

Final thoughts

While work boots are strongly recommended for truck drivers, permit me to reiterate that they are not expressly advised for persons who ride normal Cars. If you however insist, trusting that you’d be careful and pay full attention, you can then carry on with it.

As I know, there are no specific laws that restrict the wearing of work boots while driving. But for safety, be cautious!

I hope that you found this article resourceful and of course, helpful. What personal experiences do you have with work boots while driving? What products (work boots) do you wear whilst you’re behind the wheel? Are there any laws that restrict you from wearing work boots behind the wheel?

I’d like to get answers to all of these questions in the comments section below as they will help in shaping my thoughts about this discourse.

Got any thoughts? I’d be awaiting your feedback in the comments.

You should read some of our important articles:

Are Vans Good Driving Shoes?
Can I Wear Shoes Without Insoles?
Are Converse Comfortable For Flat Feet?
Are Ecco Shoes Good for Wide Feet?