Overview

• The Guardia Civil and DGT have issued joint guidance discouraging flip-flops due to their potential to cause pedal slippage and increase accident risk.
• Spain’s General Traffic Regulation does not list specific footwear rules, but Articles 3.1, 17.1 and 18.1 require drivers to ensure freedom of movement and full vehicle control.
• Traffic officers can impose fines of €80 for light infractions or up to €200 for serious risks when footwear impairs safe driving.
• The summer surge in coastal and holiday travel has prompted heightened roadside checks on driver footwear and other safety infractions.
• Penalties hinge on individual officers’ evaluations of traffic conditions, vehicle type and driver response to determine if flip-flops constitute a hazard.