I’m sure your driving instructor will have spoken to you about driving safety, but what they might not have covered is that safety comes down to every little detail, like the clothes you wear. Just as you need to dress appropriately to ride a bike, you need to dress appropriately in a car, else you might lose control of the wheel or pedals more easily. Now I’m not saying you need to dress up in protective leather jackets or wear a helmet, but there are a few things that you might want to consider to stay safe and comfortable behind the wheel.

Comfort comes first

It might be a good idea to steer clear of tight and restrictive clothing. Wearing something that allows for movement and overall comfort will make your drive a lot easier. Ultimately, you should wear clothes that fit well and allow you to move with ease.

Footwear

Regardless of whether you’re a learner or an experienced driver, no one wants to put a foot to the pedal in shoes that don’t fit properly. Tight shoes will be uncomfortable and distracting, and oversized shoes will give you restricted control over your actions. Try to keep your feet comfortable, and avoid anything with a heel. Boots are just going to make your job more difficult.

It’s best to think ahead. You don’t want to get into your car and have to take your heels off on a night out. Even though barefoot might be safer than driving in heels, you’ll still have lack of control as your foot might slip off the pedal. It might be a good idea to keep a spare pair of flats in the boot for times like this.

You should also try to avoid flip flops and sandals as they can get caught easily. In fact, according to an article in the Daily Mail, flip flops are more dangerous to drive in than heels. One in 10 have had a near miss while wearing them, with 1.4 million near misses or accidents a year.

Suit the season

Take the weather into consideration, if it’s warm outside you might be best off wearing something light. Especially if you’re a learner about to take a test, you don’t want to be wearing something too heavy with the additional pressure of being examined. To do your best, and to stay safe, you need to be as comfortable as possible. You might find that you get even warmer during your test.

In colder weather, it may be a good idea to throw a few layers on rather than a thick jacket. This is because a thick jacket might restrict your movement. Perhaps keep a jumper in the back in case you get cold during your journey.

If you keep a pair of sunglasses in your glove compartment, you’ll thank yourself later. It’s never fun nor safe to drive with a blinding stream of light in your eyes. Protect your eyes, and throw some shades on during those hot summer days. Sunglasses also come in handy during the winter when the sun tends to be lower. According to another article in the Daily Mail, the glare of the sun causes nearly 3,000 road accidents a year.

Speaking of glove compartments, why not store some driving gloves in there? You can get gloves that are specifically made for driving, keeping your hands warm whilst also giving you a good grip of the wheel – no one likes to drive with ice cold fingers.

Long journeys

Although it’s a good idea to dress for the season, we wouldn’t recommend wearing shorts or skirts that don’t go past your thighs, as skin contact with your seat may cause irritation which could be uncomfortable on a long drive. It might also be a good idea to keep a backup outfit in the car, just to be prepared for any situation. You never know what might happen on your way.