Will you get fined for driving without slippers in Malaysia?

The short answer is: no, you will not be fined for driving without your slippers if you’re driving your own private vehicle that is. However, if you’re a commercial vehicle driver in Malaysia such as an e-hailing driver, then the answer is yes and you will get fined for it when caught.

Last month, an outraged driver in Penang uploaded a video documenting how a police officer had asked to check if he was wearing slippers while he was driving.

Reporters have since reached out to the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and confirmed that it is NOT against the law to drive barefooted in your private vehicles.

However, there is a law against driving without footwear in a taxi, bus, lorry, and e-hailing cars. These drivers fall into the category of commercial vehicle drivers and hold a Public Service Vehicles (PSV) license.

If a PSV driver is caught driving barefooted, they can be fined RM 150.

The law for PSV drivers to be neatly dressed (this includes shoes) was put into place to ensure the safety of these drivers as driving barefooted is dangerous to a certain degree.

But who are we kidding? Malaysians wear slippers and singlets to JPJ offices when it is a no-brainer to wear appropriate clothing to government offices, what is to say when they’re ‘only’ acting as a driver?

So, authorities have to resort to only making sure PSV drivers wore shoes while driving under the Public Service Vehicles (Licensing and Conduct of Drivers, Conductors, and Passengers) Rule 1959.

Why is it dangerous to drive barefoot?

A training manager from Despark College told Free Malaysia Today that while it is understandable that drivers want to feel the pedals of the car while driving for the tactile sensation, it would be inappropriate during emergencies.

If the pedals are wet, the driver’s bare feet could slip and might lose control of the pedal leading to a crash. If they encounter the unfortunate situation of the car catching fire, the driver’s feet could get severely injured.

Wearing shoes while driving would allow you to just run out of the car without needing to flail around looking for your shoes in the event of a crash.

But not all shoes are appropriate for driving. A rally-champion mentor once told me that my Nike (not an endorsement) running shoes are not appropriate for driving as they are too thick. Hence why my Nikes are currently rotting in the trash.

Automotive academic Chew Kim Loong explained to FMT that an ideal pair of driving shoes should not be too thick or too thin and must have enough grip to depress the pedal. This way the driver will be able to sense how far the pedal has been depressed and how much to lift off.

Ideal driving shoes will also allow the driver to brake with force in an emergency. Those who have been to advanced driving school will know that a life-or-death situation could depend on how hard and how fast the driver stomps on the brakes.

The shoes also should not be too wide to prevent accidental pressing of the wrong pedals. And yes, they have to be shoes as that would reduce the possibility of the slippers like flip flops falling off and causing a pedal misoperation moment.

Remember, laws are put into place for the safety of road users in the country, they certainly are not decided for laughs and giggles. So, it is best to abide by the law. And, it's friendlier on your bank account too.