Dangerous Habits

Playing favorite music loudly while driving, lengthy phone calls without a hands-free kit, driving in uncomfortable footwear, or touching up makeup on the way to work – these are everyday habits that can lead to hazardous situations on the road.

Why You Shouldn’t Drive in High Heels?

Presumably, a large proportion of drivers do not think at all about selecting appropriate footwear for driving a car; however, this is an important topic, especially for women. Every woman likes to look elegant and probably has at least one pair of high heels in her wardrobe. Such shoes are perfect for going out, and with an evening gown or elegant trousers they are practically an essential part of an outfit. However, they are not necessarily suitable for driving a car. Contrary to appearances, footwear has a very significant impact when it comes to maintaining safety on the road. Just how difficult and dangerous it is to drive a vehicle in such shoes for someone who has only recently passed their driving test was discovered by one Polish blogger, who wrote: “Shortly after getting my driver’s license, I finally decided to get behind the wheel in high heels. After all, so many women drive in high heels, so surely there couldn’t be anything difficult about it? My surprise was immense when it turned out that I had completely no feel for the pedals and somehow had poor control over the car altogether. Fortunately, I only drove to a nearby store and by some miracle survived the trip. From then on, taught by experience, I always carried flat spare shoes in the car. It didn’t even cross my mind to make further attempts at driving in heels, wedges, etc. Ballerinas and sneakers reigned supreme for me.” The author of the careta.pl blog further writes, however, that: “When it turned out that I had to get behind the wheel in high heels—at first, I panicked! I was at a wedding at the time, and early in the morning I was supposed to fulfill the honorable role of designated driver. Since the decision was rather spontaneous, I had no spare shoes. The prospect of driving at 4 in the morning, and for 35 km in 7 cm heels, did not fill me with optimism. And here a surprise awaited me. I drove well, normally; after a while, I wasn’t paying attention to the shoes. Where did this difference come from? I think it is a matter of the clash between a novice driver and a driver with several years of experience. After all, I had quite a few kilometers behind me and everything turned out to be a matter of practice. Do I intend to drive in high heels because of this? No—I still feel most comfortable and natural in flat shoes. But I now know that next time I have to drive in heels, I won’t panic.” Many women share similar sentiments, yet it must be remembered that even occasional driving in inappropriate footwear carries consequences such as:

• restricted foot movement (e.g. in tall winter boots),
• faster leg fatigue, which causes considerable discomfort,
• the “heel” getting stuck under one of the pedals or digging into the floor mat,
• unnatural foot positioning, making it difficult to press the pedals properly,
• lack of feel regarding pedal pressure force (e.g. in wedge shoes),
• lack of proper foot grip (e.g. in flip-flops or slide sandals),
• faster footwear wear and tear (e.g. worn-down heel tips).

Uncomfortable Footwear and Regulations

A few years ago, there was widespread publicity surrounding a French woman whose insurance company refused to pay compensation. The woman was driving in high heels, and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of… the insurer. The justification for the ruling stated that driving a car in high-heeled shoes is a hazard to road traffic. Regulations in Poland do not specify in which shoes one should or must not drive—leaving plenty of room for interpretation here. Article 86 of the Code of Petty Offenses states that: “Whoever, by failing to exercise due care, creates a threat to road traffic safety, shall be subject to a fine.” Theoretically, one can receive a ticket for driving in inappropriate footwear (e.g. high heels, flip-flops) or barefoot, but these are rather isolated cases.

The Most Comfortable Footwear

The best and most comfortable footwear for driving a car are shoes with flat, flexible, and not too wide soles that grip the foot well. Driving in them is pleasant and comfortable because we have full control over the pressure transmitted to the pedals. We also eliminate the danger of a heel getting caught in a rubber floor mat groove. We advise women who love high heels or high wedges to set aside a special place in the trunk or glove compartment for comfortable ballet flats or loafers and put them on before driving. In such footwear, women look just as fashionable and feminine while driving. After arriving at the destination, one can always change into favorite high heels.

Listening to Music Too Loudly in the Car

As is commonly known, playing music very loudly in a car can directly lead to creating a road traffic hazard. Too many decibels not only distracts the driver, but also isolates them from the road situation and can, for example, lead to failing to hear an approaching ambulance, and in extreme cases—even causing an accident. In Polish law, one searches in vain for a statutory provision that directly regulates the issue of listening to music in a car.

Can You Get a Fine for Playing Music Too Loudly in the Car?

Some experts point to the fact that theoretically it is possible for police to fine drivers for loud music, citing failure to exercise due caution on the road (a fine of 250 to 500 PLN). Proponents of this solution point to Article 3 of the Road Traffic Act, which states that “a road user (…) is obliged to exercise caution, or when the Act requires it – special caution, and avoid any action that could create a threat to the safety or order of road traffic”. Additionally, it must be remembered that causing excessive noise can be interpreted as disturbing peace, public order, or night rest, which in turn constitutes a petty offense specified in Article 51 of the Act of May 20, 1971, Code of Petty Offenses. Violating this provision is punishable by a fine or restriction of liberty. In this case, the fine ranges from 100 to 500 PLN. However, these are purely theoretical considerations, and the police do not utilize this legal loophole. This does not mean, however, that road enthusiasts with audiophile inclinations can feel completely immune from punishment, because a situation exists where police can issue them a fine. And a very severe one at that.

Health Is Important Too!

Using the full power of a car audio system while driving produces effects similar to listening to music through headphones (in the long term causing serious hearing damage), not to mention the loss of concentration while driving. We therefore appeal to listen to your favorite music at a moderate volume—it will be much safer and more pleasant for both ourselves and the passengers traveling with us.

Talking on the Phone While Driving

Using a mobile phone while driving is a very straightforward path to creating a hazard. In the era of ubiquitous smartphones, this is a massive civilizational problem. Over the phone we no longer just talk and send text messages, but can also check email inboxes, breaking news, bank account balances, or engage on social media networks. Drivers also frequently use navigation or apps like Yanosik, and unfortunately only a few possess an appropriate phone mount. Police at every turn appeal regarding how dangerous using a phone while driving is. It is one of the most distracting activities behind the wheel—to look at a smartphone screen, we must take our eyes off the road. Every second of inattention can have tragic consequences when, for example, a child unexpectedly runs onto a pedestrian crossing and we react with a delay. Police statistics are alarming—as many as 8 out of 10 drivers in Poland use a phone while driving!

France Goes to War with Drivers Using Phones While Driving

French authorities decided to fight fiercely against drivers using cell phones. Earlier this year, the local Court just concluded a high-profile case in which a driver refused to accept a fine—he was using a smartphone while pulled over before a roundabout with hazard warning lights on. The judge decided that in this situation a fine was warranted, and a driver may use a phone solely and exclusively in a designated parking space. Under the new legal regulations, the French will not be able to pull over onto the shoulder to check a route, take an important call, or reply on Facebook. A driver may use a phone while stopped under only one condition—if an accident or vehicle breakdown occurred and they wish to notify relevant emergency services in the resulting situation.

Fine for Using a Phone While Driving

The penalty for talking on the phone while driving in France is very severe, amounting to over 565 PLN when converted. The local police are conducting a wide-ranging campaign against violators of this rule—in France it is an even more serious issue than in Poland, with statistics showing that 9 out of 10 drivers talk on the phone while driving. Over 300,000 people are fined there annually for this infraction. Such a strict interpretation of the rules should not come as a surprise, as more and more French citizens complain about cars blocking road shoulders and narrow alleys—in many cases precisely due to smartphones. This is not the only tightening of rules for drivers along the Seine, as on national roads the speed limit was lowered from 90 to 80 km/h. In Poland, the fine for talking on the phone is admittedly much lower than in France, but penalty points can hurt the driver. In Poland, using a phone while driving without a hands-free kit carries a 200 PLN fine and 5 penalty points. Among experts, voices are increasingly heard that the penalty should be substantially harsher. If the French concept proves effective over the long term, we can expect a similar solution along the Vistula as well.

Mateusz Paśkucki