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CheckoutMotorist Day 2026: History, Records and the Right Shoes for Driving
25 October 2026 — the last Sunday of October
Happy Motorist and Road Worker Day from N-SHOES
May every road unwind like a smooth ribbon and every trip be a pleasure.
We wish you alertness behind the wheel, reliable brakes and plenty of luck in life.
Ukraine's professional holiday for drivers, truckers, taxi drivers and road workers
At N-SHOES we know that comfort on the road starts not with a heated steering wheel but with shoes that let your foot sit firmly on the pedal. So for this professional holiday we are giving every driver a discount on Polish and Ukrainian footwear.
-10%for every driver, across the whole range
Promo code AUTO10 is valid from 19 to 31 October 2026 on women's and men's footwear, except items already on sale.
Motorist and Road Worker Day: the date and where it came from
The date moves every year. The holiday always falls on the last Sunday of October, so it shifts between the 25th and the 31st. In 2026 Motorist and Road Worker Day is celebrated on 25 October.
1980
The Soviet predecessor
A decree of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet added Motorist Day to the calendar; in everyday speech people simply called it Driver's Day. The date was tied to the last Sunday of October, when the active road season winds down.
13.10.1993
Decree No. 452/93
President Leonid Kravchuk signed the decree on Motorist and Road Worker Day. Independent Ukraine kept the tradition and widened it: the holiday now honours both the people behind the wheel and those who build and repair the roads.
Today
A holiday for millions
It is marked by truck and bus drivers, taxi drivers, mechanics, road crews, volunteers delivering humanitarian cargo and everyday car owners. Companies hand out certificates of merit and organise small motor rallies.
A short history of the car: from a steam cart to the Model T
1769
Cugnot's steam vehicle
French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built a self-propelled steam cart designed to haul artillery. It managed roughly 4 km/h, slower than a walking pace, yet it was the first vehicle to move without a horse.
1886
Karl Benz's patent
On 29 January Karl Benz received German patent No. 37435 for the three-wheeled Benz Patent-Motorwagen with a petrol engine. That date is considered the birthday of the automobile as we know it.
1888
Bertha Benz's long-distance run
The inventor's wife drove about 106 km from Mannheim to Pforzheim with her sons, without telling her husband. She refuelled at a pharmacy along the way and cleared a blocked fuel line with a hat pin. It was the first test drive and the first advertising campaign in automotive history.
1908—1913
Ford Model T and the assembly line
Henry Ford turned the car into a mass-market product, and the moving assembly line cut build time for one vehicle from almost 12 hours to about 90 minutes. Some 15 million Model T cars were produced over 19 years.
Automotive records worth knowing
Numbers that turn an ordinary commute into a much better story.
1227.9 km/h
The absolute land speed record: ThrustSSC driven by Andy Green in the Black Rock Desert, 1997 — the first supersonic run on land.
490.4 km/h
The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ at the Ehra-Lessien test track in 2019, breaking the 300 mph barrier on a production platform.
5,000,000 km
The mileage of Irv Gordon's Volvo P1800 — more than five million kilometres on a single car built in 1966.
176 km
The longest traffic jam on record, on the Lyon to Paris route in February 1980. China holds the endurance record: the Beijing to Tibet jam lasted 12 days.
Facts about the road and the people on it
- The best-selling passenger car in the world is the Toyota Corolla: over 50 million units since 1966.
- Researchers estimate that a private car spends roughly 95% of its life parked.
- The global vehicle fleet has passed 1.5 billion units.
- Parts of the German autobahn still have no upper speed limit, only an advisory 130 km/h.
- In the Diia app Ukrainian drivers carry a digital driving licence and vehicle registration certificate, so paper documents are no longer mandatory.
- The European accident statement lets drivers document a collision without calling the police, provided nobody is injured and both sides agree on the circumstances.
- Ukraine has its own automotive history: LAZ buses (1956), the ZAZ plant with the legendary ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets (1960) and the KrAZ truck works (1958).
- Ukraine's public road network exceeds 160,000 kilometres.
Driving shoes: a safety question, not a style question
The sole is the only point of contact between your foot and the pedal. Its thickness, flexibility and grip decide how precisely you meter the brakes and how fast you can move your foot in an emergency. Here is what to look for when you choose footwear at the N-SHOES online store.
What works behind the wheel
- A thin, flexible sole of 1—2.5 cm, so the foot feels the pedal instead of thumping against it.
- A secured heel: boots, loafers, sneakers or derbies. The shoe must not slip off.
- A stable, wide heel up to 3 cm so the foot rests properly on the floor mat.
- A compact toe box that will not catch the neighbouring pedal.
- Light, breathable materials: full-grain leather, suede, textile lining.
What to take off before you drive
- Bulky winter boots and uggs: pedal feel disappears and it is easy to press two pedals at once.
- Stilettos and high platforms: they change the angle of the foot and add reaction time.
- Clogs, flip-flops and any backless shoe, which can come off and jam a pedal.
- Trainers with a deep aggressive tread that snags on the edge of the pedal.
- Wet or snow-covered shoes, because the foot slides.
Choosing a pair for the way you drive
| Scenario | What to pick at N-SHOES | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Daily city commute | Anna Lucci women's loafers and pumps, N-SHOES Fabio men's leather sneakers | Flat profile, natural leather, easy to slip on and off in the car park |
| Business trip, meeting, office | Classic Rylko and Simen men's shoes, women's shoes on a stable heel | Dress code plus a thin flexible sole with no bulky toe |
| Long haul and extended mileage | Reebok and Joma trainers, DC Shoes sneakers | Low weight, cushioning and a secure fit during stops and inspections |
| Winter and mid-season | Lonza demi-season boots, fur-lined Allsy winter sneakers, Polish Nessi models | Warmth outside plus a light spare pair in the cabin for driving |
| Icy and slippery roads | Models with Grunberg technology and anti-slip soles | Grip at the petrol station, on the hard shoulder and at the boot of the car |
An N-SHOES tip: keep a separate light pair in the car — loafers, moccasins or low sneakers. Winter boots stay for the street, while your foot works the pedals in footwear that gives full control. It is a habit of professional drivers and it costs less than any insurance policy.
Why drivers choose the N-SHOES online store
European quality
Polish factories Rylko, Simen, Lonza and Nessi, Ukrainian brand Anna Lucci and our own N-SHOES Fabio line — natural leather, suede and nubuck.
Trading since 2009
The store has been running since 15 August 2009. Along the way we learned to size customers remotely and to say openly when a model runs small.
Delivery across Ukraine
We ship to every city and you can try the shoes on before paying. Our offline store operates in Kharkiv.
Exchange and return
If the pair does not fit in size or width, you can exchange it under the Law of Ukraine on Consumer Rights Protection.
Questions and answers
When is Motorist and Road Worker Day in 2026?
On 25 October 2026. The holiday always falls on the last Sunday of October, so the date changes every year.
Is there a fine for driving in unsuitable shoes?
Ukrainian traffic rules contain no separate clause about footwear. However, the driver is responsible for operating the vehicle in a condition that allows full control, so if your shoes stopped you braking in time, that will count against you after a collision.
What heel height is acceptable behind the wheel?
Up to 3 cm on a wide, stable heel is ideal. Stilettos and platforms change the angle of the foot and slow down the move from one pedal to another.
How do I choose the right size online?
Measure your foot in centimetres in the evening, when it is slightly swollen, and compare it with the size chart in the product card. For models that run small we add a separate note and recommend going one size up.
How do I use the Motorist Day discount?
Add the item to your basket and enter promo code AUTO10 in the coupon field at checkout. The discount does not stack with other promotions.
Safe roads and a comfortable pair
Thank you to everyone who keeps the country moving: drivers, truckers, road crews and volunteers. Choose footwear that makes the journey comfortable.
2025-10-30 00:01:00
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