Are platform shoes unsuitable for driving?

[Guest]

I drive in all shoes from flats to 5 inch platforms. Its whatever you feel comfortable with. Have a go & if you dont feel comfortable then dont drive in them. But I can assure you any shoes are fine to drive in.

Usually I would agree with you completely. I can't say I've ever driven in platforms (don't own any) but my I have in most of my pointy heeled work shoes with few problems.

I had a bit of an embarrasing experience the other night tho I went to test drive a new car wearing my new 4" high pointy pumps on. In my car I was fine with them coz I'm familiar with it and its an auto - the new one I want is a manual (I want something more sporty! but I havn't driven a manual for a while)

I nearly embarrassed myself before I even got in the seat, it was raining outside and I rushed across the forcourt in the downpour stepped inside the showroom area and soooo nearly fell on my butt coz my stilettos slipped on the shiny tiles (why the HELL are ALL showrooms slippery tile??)

I guess I should have realised it wasn't going to be my night right when I slipped on the wet greasy tile heh!

Anyhow went back outside, got into this car with a very cute looking salesman (they saw me coming didn't they!) and tried to hill start this car on the slope out of the forecourt....needless to say my now soaking wet leather soled heels slipped on the pedals and I stalled. About 500 yards down the road at only the second set of lights it happened again

Has this kind of thing ever happened to anyone else.

[minigirl]

i always wear flat shoes when i'm driving, as i find they give you a better feel for what your feet are doing.

[azraelle]

Without going into anatomical details as to why, my right knee aches quite badly when driving long distances if I don't either wear high heeled boots or shoes with a rigid sole, e.g. a platform of at least 1/2 inch, or put my left foot under my right heel (which I did for many years until it started causing my left knee to hurt from the skewed angle). The rigidity of the sole makes it possible to press the gas pedal with a much smaller force (therefore less muscle tension, and therefore less ache) than with a flexible sole, or even worse, bare feet. In my particular case, therefore, platforms make for a much less painful, and therefore safer, driving experience.

[Bristol32]

Thick soles are not only rigid, they are also heavy. You don't have any proper feeling for the pedals. In an emergency braking situation you increase the chance of catching the sole along the side of the pedal and missing it all together.

[Guest]

I drive in all shoes from flats to 5 inch platforms. Its whatever you feel comfortable with. Have a go & if you dont feel comfortable then dont drive in them. But I can assure you any shoes are fine to drive in.

have never driven in 5 inch plattforms, would have to go barefoot and then get out of the car to put them on.

[denisehornsby]

Hi,
I think the shoes you wear are an irrelevence certainly for an automatic as my SL55 is. There are plenty of rotten drivers who speak on their phones, text, go too fast and don't signal. I think these things are unsafe. If you can walk in heels/platforms you can drive althogh a manual car might be tricky in very high heels. You have to push the clutch right down. The hardest thing I find is to floor the gas pedal wearing 6" stiletto heels (my highest) as the pedal is floor mounted. I can do this by pivoting my foot to the right so my heel is off the base of the pedal to accelerate quickly or if my car is reluctant to start. The brake pedal causes no problem as little travel distance so perfectly safe. Never had a mis-hap in 20 years!! hope this helps Denise.

[Highheels]

I drive wearing platforms and have never had a problem.

[louise_heels]

Hi,
I think the shoes you wear are an irrelevence certainly for an automatic as my SL55 is. There are plenty of rotten drivers who speak on their phones, text, go too fast and don't signal. I think these things are unsafe. If you can walk in heels/platforms you can drive althogh a manual car might be tricky in very high heels. You have to push the clutch right down. The hardest thing I find is to floor the gas pedal wearing 6" stiletto heels (my highest) as the pedal is floor mounted. I can do this by pivoting my foot to the right so my heel is off the base of the pedal to accelerate quickly or if my car is reluctant to start. The brake pedal causes no problem as little travel distance so perfectly safe. Never had a mis-hap in 20 years!! hope this helps Denise.

Hi Denise, did you find it harder driving a manual, or have you always had auto cars? How high a heel do you generally wear?

Louise

[denisehornsby]

Hi,
I normally wear flat shoes or trianers during the day (occasionally low heels) and high heels when I go out in the evening varying in from 4" to 6" inches, always stilettos depending on how far I think I have to walk!!. My previous car was a maual but now I am lucky to have a lovely auto so I can drive in any shoes, regards, Denise