Flip-flops
I believe driving in flip-flops is against the law, punishable with an on the spot fine. How come nearly every driver turning up at our community pool (obviously Spanish) is wearing said foot wear. Does this law just apply to gullible Brits ? I think so, because i've seen it in the village and outside shops and bars, or perhaps the Spanish don't know about this law.
They've all just turned up again en masse, 3 cars, all Spanish, all drivers wearing flip-flops !
They have to be caught by the police to be fined and when they are caught they are fined
I think you will find that the Spanish and a few English have realised that as soon as Old Bill approach them in a car, they kick off said footwear and are left barefoot, no law against driving with no shoes. Old Bill might suspect they have been had over, but won't be able to prove it, as they can't see in to the drivers foot well unless right up against the car. Only takes 2 sec to kick off these offending items.
Would you know a Mrs Williams then ? someone lost touch with her a while ago and asked of her whereabouts on here.
thanks reindeer keeper for your excellent contributions, now slide off and feed your pets !
Thanks stockportdave for the nice remark. They are all ready for Santa Claus. In great shape!
Is she a flip-flops expert?
Commented reindeer keeper in La Marina about 11 hours ago
No but she is an expert on flip flips (so i am told )
you can wear flip flops to drive in if you have a medical condition, I have a 10 year old metatarsal injury, I as doing ok until I was at the checkout in Mercodona when a large Spanish woman stepped backwards on my foot, I am now back to square one, I now drive in flip flops but change to go in the supermarket
Goonerpeter,
do you need an exemption certificate to drive in flip flops? I have one for seat belt exemption, certified by the lawyers, but the police and town hall refuse to acknowledge it, passing the buck one to the other.
I drive in fear of being stopped and fined, and having an almighty row with the authorities.
Has anybody else got an exemption for any motoring laws ie being allowed to break the speed limit, ? Apart from the emergency services that is.
The law requires that you are suitably attired to drive safely and if you are stopped by the Guardia they can decide that driving barefoot is not safe as you can not exert enough brake pressure as if you are wearing suitable footwear therefore they can fine you for dangerous driving . This is true in the UK as well.
There is no exemption in Spanish Law for not wearing a seat belt the law was amended this year
Fred,
Can you amplify please, as I have a lifetime medical exemption from UK Doctor, which is supposed to be world wide, are you telling me that it is not valid in Spain? and if so why? Thanks
Because the Spanish have removed all exemptions and all drivers in Spain must wear a seat belt even pregnant women and taxi drivers I believe the law was passed to statute last month you would need to check the Royal Decree list
I will look into it again
I was told by the medic you can drive in whatever is comfortable as long as it's safe,,but not for example with your leg in plaster,,,you would have to ask your doctor for a certificate
POLITICIANS make laws not medics, would you take notice of a politicIan on a medical problem
but as we all know, in my opinion, most politicians are pretty clueless and have no common sense,, just look around La Marina,, and the Medic did a great job on my foot and knows what's best.
A lawyer told me(which I know does not mean much here) any shoe without a back strap ie crocs, flip flops, etc are illegal and barefoot is illegal , only what I have been told. On the spot fine of 150 euros for shoes....
If the politicians are clueless the answer is to change them ,if all the expats in La Marina voted they could change and take over the council
Why not have our own council ? Are we not bigger than San Fulgencio ? Maybe then La Marina would be able to improve and have more facilities.
Any valid reasons why La Marina should not be an autonomous town with it's own Mayor, and many international councillors.
La Marina Urb is part of San Fulgencio so the only thing to do is to form a party that will represent all the residents of San Fulgencio not just a certain few but the trouble is people will not register on the pardon as they are not paying their taxes
If all the expats where to do this they could vote out the existing council it has been done in another part of Spain
Fred pegman You can drive barefooted in Spain as by coincidence that was one of the questions asked at my secretaries driving test 4 months ago.
The law changed 2 months ago and it is always down to the Guardia version if they say its wrong its wrong try and argue
How can it be wrong if you are allowed to take your driving test barefooted. Are you seriously saying that you can be allowed to take your test barefooted but could be fined for driving home from the test barefoted, I dont think so.I think you are thinking of 30 years ago. Cars have a servo and disc brakes now. I have just taken two cars around the block barefooted and the amount of effort to brake is less than the the amount received on the foot walking barefooted and if you cant walk barefooted maybe you shouldnt be driving.
Try telling that to Traffico when they stop you and you will finish up in more trouble They love people like you makes more bonus money for them
Robert.
What did your Doctor say when you had your Spanish medical?
Also I understand that men are NOT permitted to drive topless, however it's OK for a women do drive topless.
Its people like you Fred that the Guardi love (money machines). The more people give into their blackmail the more they attempt to blackmail more people. You wouldnt fall for that trick in the UK dont embarrass yourself here. If they are in the wrong tell them that you aint paying I assure you IF you are right they will not take you to court.
johnmckernanjn......
If you think you can drive effectively and legally ( in complete control of your vehicle) either bare foot or in flip flops you are an idiot!
Take your shoes off and try an emergency stop, you will break your foot, the law in this case is sensible ( there are many stupid laws on most countries books), once you have got out of Urgencias, wear shoes, walk on your back feet, and stop being an arse,
I stopped at traffic lights next to a Guardia car and the officer had his bare feet on the dashboard
Electrons,
The actual words my Doctor said to me, we're " señor Roberto, es tan GRANDE " which translates to "you are a BIG BOY", should I diet, do you think ? In case you ask, yes it was a lady Doctor ! Dream on.
Zenophant you are truely an idiot I have driven 1.2 million miles as a HGV1 driver even taking my test in a TK bedford without ever wearing shoes because I have a problem with ingrowing toenails. I have never in 36 years ever failed to not break in an emergancy. You allowed to take your test barefooted here and in the UK because I assume that the authorities are wise enough to understand how servo brakes and how disc brakes work. If you are brave enough to take the challenge I will drive my car with you as a passenger with no seatbelt ( on private land) and see if your head dont crack on the windscreen. Up for the challenge or do you just talk tough.
1. Driving in no shoes or shoes with no back is illegal in Spain for good reason, you are not in proper control of the vehicle,it is the law simple.
2. Sitting in an LGV in an airsprung seat as if you were sat at your dining table, operating the heavily servo & air assisted brakes designed to stop 40+ tonnes, you push only down on the pedal(and gently), quite easy, you have a commanding view of the road from your perch and as a professional driver should be much more aware than most around you, however mere average mortals in a car in which you are virtually laying down and you push forward on the pedals, in an emergency you do this very strongly assuming you have good reactions you are mashing your very tender foot into an unfeeling piece of steel and if barefoot you will break something, particularly if the car has anti lock brakes and pumps back at you.... that is why its illegal, because its not safe.
Thanks for the Bedford TK reference you have rekindled some memories of everything that was wrong with an HGV, (Maples Waring & Gillow 26 foot furniture boxes) TK's no power brakes, no power steering.....nasty
And if the toenails persist I can recommend a fantastic chiropodist ( or even chiropractor if you cant bend down to cut them).
But he wasnt driving at the time surely = no, its sensible to be fined for not wearing shoes with backs in them -
johnmckernanjnr
with regards to your comment about driving baefoot in the uk.
please find attached the quote from the RAC UK on dec 2012.
quote from the driving standards agency,
According to the Driving Standards Agency – the body that regulates the UK driving test – “suitable shoes are particularly important behind the wheel. We would not recommend driving barefoot because you don’t have the same braking force with bare feet as you do with shoes on.”
There are some basic guidelines you should follow when selecting footwear to drive in. Your shoe should:
Have a sole no thicker than 10mm…
… but the sole should not be too thin or soft
Provide enough grip to stop your foot slipping off the pedals
Not be too heavy
Not limit ankle movement
Be narrow enough to avoid accidentally depressing two pedals at once
THIS IS FACT NOT HEARSAY !!!!
END OF THIS SUBJECT.
I think you owe zenophant an appology.
Thanks local you proved my point for me. I never said it was advisable just that it was legal.
So if the RAC suggest it might not be best to drive barefooted proves my point it must be legal which is all my original point was. QED.
disconnect the tacho and wedging a stick down on the accelerator peddle all night was a bit dodgy
Hence my comment. If you know you are right refuse the fine, the only option left to them is to take it to court, something they will not do if there is any chance they are wrong. If you are wrong pay the fine and shut up but dont be bullied into paying a fine if you have done nothing wrong.
hi robert,
the RAC was quoting what the driving standards agency was stating.
I have checked further.
The LAW says that it is not illegal to drive in bare feet, but goes on to say that you must have control of the vehicle at all times, and that driving with wet bare feet, or sweating feet is classed as illegal, as you could be putting yourself and others at risk.
so the answer is simple, WE ALL SWEAT, SO YES IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE IN BARE FEET.
You stated that it was legal to drive barefooted then added that as we all sweat it was illegal. So if we all sweat that much I suppose it must be illegal to steer with bare hands. Give up you plonker!
Like it or not that is the law, the fact you may have broken it for 30 years just means you are possible subject matter for the Darwin awards.
Source Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot
Many people believe that it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle barefoot, though there are no laws in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other places against it.
I have just been to the Guardia Barracks in Dolores just to make sure that I was not the idiot here, and they laughed when I asked if it was illegal to drive barefooted and one of the officers confirmed he sometimes does. Just to point out I have never advocated anyone to drive barefooted I have only stated it is not illegal and as a responsible adult you have to make your own mind up if its safe for you, maybe that is where elephantman has a problem.
Source Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot
Many people believe that it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle barefoot, though there are no laws in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other places against it.
I have just been to the Guardia Barracks in Dolores just to make sure that I was not the idiot here, and they laughed when I asked if it was illegal to drive barefooted and one of the officers confirmed he sometimes does. Just to point out I have never advocated anyone to drive barefooted I have only stated it is not illegal and as a responsible adult you have to make your own mind up if its safe for you, maybe that is where elephantman has a problem.
Of course is a problem for a elephantman! But for all others (with wooden leg or not) it is no problem. You have more control without a shoe!
johnmc
and everyone one else having a rant because you want to drive in barefeet or unsuitable footwear.
I just stated the uk law about driving barefoot.
If you drive barefoot with wet feet IT IS ILLEGAL!!!! the police also take into account that if your feet are slippy due to sweat or any other fluid , you are not in full control of your vehicle, therefore you are guilty of driving without due care.
penalty of upto 6 points and £300 fine.
if you or anyone else wishes to drive barefoot, please be my guest, I am just saying it as it is.
But everyone that does drive in flipflops , barefoot , high heels or whatever you may be wearing. just remember are you doing so safely, or are you putting yourself and other people at risk by your actions.
dont be flippant or argue back just for the hell of it, think one slip of the foot, or a flipflop gets stuck under a pedal, and someone could get killed by your actions, could you live with that, if your the lucky one not to be killed.
It is everyones personal choice, risk it if you wish, just hope im not around if it all goes wrong.
local
£300 fine? Are you dreaming?
The currency in Spain is Euro.
Who cares what the british law says! We live in Spain.
a BA pilot friend of mine used to fly 747s in his bare feet, controlling the rudder and nose wheel pedals on long haul, next time you board Easyjet glance in the cockpit at the crews feet.
Sorry for my break in replies, I thought I would talk to DVLA to make sure that I was not breaking the law and the fact I am repying says it all. I asked if it was legal to drive barefooted and the answer was"there is no law against it" I asked if they could point me to some text that states its legal and was told that they only list things that are illegal, so unless one of the bar room lawyers can produce a DVLA document that states its illegal it must be legal. With regard to feet getting so sweaty and you being unable to control the pedal, by the time that arises your hands would be so sweaty you couldnt steer so there would be no need to brake. With an convoluted argument like that you lost your calling for The Jeremy Kyle show.
hot enough for flip flop's and mankini, but don't run more than 30 mph in flip flops you'll do ya metatarsal
Lol have to agree, I have also seen young med riding mopeds in flip-flops too.