A dramatic supercar crash in Cape Town’s Sea Point area over the weekend has ignited heated debates online, not only about reckless driving but also about appropriate footwear behind the wheel.
The incident, which occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, involved a white McLaren 570S that was captured on video speeding down a suburban road before suddenly braking, hitting a pavement, and losing control. Witnesses identified the driver as a Nigerian rapper, who was seen sitting on the ground after the crash, appearing shaken but not seriously injured. Both he and his passenger were taken to a nearby hospital.
Social media users were quick to accuse the driver of reckless driving, but in a statement, he claimed he was trying to avoid hitting a homeless person. However, much of the online chatter focused on his footwear. Hours before the crash, he had posted a video of himself dancing in white shoes with oversized soles. Many speculated that these shoes may have contributed to the accident by interfering with his ability to properly operate the car’s pedals.
Photos taken at the crash scene showed the driver wearing the same outfit as the night before, but without shoes. A regular-sized white shoe was spotted near the wreckage, though it remains unclear whether it belonged to him or his passenger.
While South African law does not regulate footwear for driving, road safety organisations such as Arrive Alive and the Automobile Association (AA) caution against wearing inappropriate shoes.
“The choice of footwear for safe driving must allow the foot to feel the pressure needed to brake or accelerate properly,” Arrive Alive stated.
The AA warned that high heels, for example, could compromise pedal control and even lead to an accident. “If your heel is elevated, you won’t be able to judge how much pressure to apply to the pedals. Your shoe could also get caught in the floor mat or stuck under a pedal,” the association added.
As investigations into the crash continue, the incident has sparked discussions on whether South Africa should introduce regulations on driving footwear to improve road safety.