Is it legal to drive while wearing thongs or sandals in Australia?

Picture: iStock

You can tell summer has officially arrived in Australia by the choice of footwear you see out and about, with many swapping their office shoes in favour of sandals and thongs the minute their holiday leave starts.

And while shorts, singlets and thongs are undoubtedly the summer uniform in Australia – thanks to the unforgiving heat – can wearing open-toed shoes while driving get you in trouble? Here’s what you need to know.

Yes, it’s technically legal to wear thongs and sandals while driving in New South Wales, as there’s no specific legislation prohibiting motorists from wearing these types of shoes while on the road.

However, it’s worth noting drivers can still be penalised for another offence if their choice of shoe was the reason they lost control of their vehicle in an accident.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility, and motorists should always choose appropriate footwear that won’t impede their ability to safely control a vehicle," a Transport for NSW spokesperson told Drive.

Failure to properly control your vehicle can land you a $562 fine and three demerit points in New South Wales, which increases to $762 and four demerit points if the offence takes place in a school zone.

Yes, it’s legal to drive while wearing thongs or sandals in Victoria. But just like New South Wales, drivers can be fined accordingly if they lose control of their car because of their choice of footwear.

“Drivers should remain alert, keep their eyes on the road and ensure they have full control of the vehicle," a Department of Transport and Planning Victoria spokesperson said.

For reference, under Victoria’s road rules, losing control of a vehicle can lead to a maximum court-imposed five penalty units valued at $1017.

It's technically legal to wear thongs or sandals while driving in Australia, as there's no specific road rule that regulates driver footwear. Picture: iStock

In Queensland, drivers are legally allowed to wear thongs or sandals while driving, provided they maintain control of their car.

A Department of Transport and Main Roads Queensland spokesperson told Drive, “If a driver’s footwear interferes with the safe use of vehicle controls, this could be an offence for careless driving and comes with a fine of $667 and three demerit points”.

Yes, it's legal to wear open-toed footwear – such as thongs or sandals – in South Australia. However, road authorities have warned drivers of the potential safety risks.

“Driving while barefoot, or wearing thongs, slides, or socks may affect the ability for a person to exercise proper control of the vehicle and pose an additional risk of footwear getting stuck underneath the pedals," a Department of Transport South Australia spokesperson said.

Driving a vehicle without proper control of it can lead to a $228 penalty in South Australia.

Additionally, the Department of Transport spokesperson said learner drivers are prohibited from driving on local roads while barefoot, or wearing thongs, clogs or any shoes “without heel support”.

A WA Police spokesperson previously told Drive, it is not illegal for drivers to wear thongs or sandals while driving. However, other offences could apply if an accident occurs.

“Although there is no specific legislation regarding the wearing of footwear while driving or riding a motor vehicle, the circumstances of wearing inappropriate footwear while operating a motor vehicle may be taken into account if a person is involved in an accident,” they said.

While there's no specific law, depending on the state or territory, motorists can still be fined accordingly if their footwear was the reason why they lost control of their vehicle. Picture: iStock

Yes, it’s legal in Tasmania to drive while wearing thongs or sandals, as there’s no road rule regulating driver footwear in the state.

“It is not illegal to wear thongs or sandals while driving. A driver’s footwear doesn’t make them at fault in the event of a collision, but it may be taken into consideration as a possible contributing factor," an ACT Policing spokesperson told Drive.

Yes, it's legal to drive while wearing thongs or sandals in the Northern Territory, as there's no specific law barring motorists from wearing specific footwear.

Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.

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