{"id":299,"date":"2021-11-29T02:40:51","date_gmt":"2021-11-29T02:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/?p=299"},"modified":"2022-05-25T08:38:18","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T15:38:18","slug":"is-driving-barefoot-illegal-in-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/is-driving-barefoot-illegal-in-the-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Driving Barefoot Illegal in the US?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Maybe you live in sunny Florida, where the weather is gloriously warm and sunny throughout the year. Perhaps you\u2019re always running late, and frequently jump into the car without your shoes on. Maybe you\u2019re forgetful, or maybe, just maybe, you just don\u2019t like footwear. Whatever your reason may be, you have a penchant for going barefoot when you drive, and you&#8217;d prefer to keep it that way.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t get me wrong\u2014I\u2019m not judging! I dare say people have done weirder things in their cars while driving, from shaving on the go to talking\/texting while driving to eating everything from steaks to burgers to salads to even reading!<\/p>\n<p>However, whatever your sartorial choices maybe, what\u2019s the legality surrounding barefoot driving in the US? Are you risking a ticket by driving barefoot, or is it as legal as, say, eating an ice cream?<\/p>\n<p>After ample research, here\u2019s all that you need to know about driving barefoot and its legality in the United States!<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/is-driving-barefoot-illegal-in-the-us\/#To-Barefoot-or-Not-to-Barefoot\" title=\"To Barefoot or Not to Barefoot?\">To Barefoot or Not to Barefoot?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/is-driving-barefoot-illegal-in-the-us\/#Why-Driving-Barefoot-Can-be-Dangerous\" title=\"Why Driving Barefoot Can be Dangerous\">Why Driving Barefoot Can be Dangerous<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/is-driving-barefoot-illegal-in-the-us\/#A-Case-for-Barefoot-Driving\" title=\"A Case for Barefoot Driving\">A Case for Barefoot Driving<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/is-driving-barefoot-illegal-in-the-us\/#The-Ideal-Driving-Shoes\" title=\"The Ideal Driving Shoes\">The Ideal Driving Shoes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/is-driving-barefoot-illegal-in-the-us\/#The-Bottom-Line\" title=\"The Bottom Line\">The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"To-Barefoot-or-Not-to-Barefoot\"><\/span>To Barefoot or Not to Barefoot?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Long story short, driving barefoot is completely legal in all 50 states of the United States, as is driving in flip-flops and sandals. There isn\u2019t any law barring folks from driving without shoes on. However, there are a few things you need to consider before you do this regularly.<\/p>\n<p>Turns out that driving barefoot isn\u2019t recommended, at least not by the majority. Many authorities urge folks to drive with shoes on.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why-Driving-Barefoot-Can-be-Dangerous\"><\/span>Why Driving Barefoot Can be Dangerous<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Driving barefoot is discouraged because, believe it or not, it can bring a potential world of danger to the table. This is owing to the following reasons:<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re barefoot, your feet are not protected. This means that they are at a risk of injury as it is, but especially so in the case of an accident. Your unprotected feet may get more injured and more severely than if they were protected by shoes or footwear.<\/p>\n<p>Should an accident happen or you need to stop your car and get out for whatever reason, your bare feet can fall victim to serious injuries, from shattered glass and car parts or sharp, uneven objects on the road. You\u2019re at great risk of receiving cuts or injuries caused by broken glass and debris on the road. You may even have to push your car, in some cases; obviously, doing so barefoot is not going to be much fun.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve just met with an accident and are waiting for the emergency services on the side of the road, it\u2019s quite impractical to wait without any shoes on, especially if it\u2019s a chilly night, or worse, winter.<\/p>\n<p>Driving barefoot doesn\u2019t give you as much comfort and reach as driving with shoes can, just the way that it\u2019s more comfortable to run with shoes on than flip-flops. If you\u2019re uncomfortable, you\u2019re bound to stay distracted the whole time that you\u2019re driving, which can be quite dangerous.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re driving in flip-flops, they could get stuck under the pedals or tangled in them, making it hard to regain your footing and stop, start, or control the vehicle as required. Needless to say, this causes quite a major, harmful distraction while driving. Though, you may dismiss distraction as an unimportant consequence of driving barefoot, the fact that 60% of all car accidents happen due to distracted driving may have you reconsider.<\/p>\n<p>Though driving barefoot is legal, it is severely frowned upon by the authorities. This means that should there be an accident and the police find that you were driving barefoot, you may be found partially at fault, depending on the circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>It may be difficult to fully depress the brake and clutch pedals. This is especially true in older cars and sports cars where the pedal force tends to be a bit higher. The clutch in manual cars is quite thin and small and requires the driver to exert quite a bit of pressure on the ball of the foot.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s easier to apply the required pressure on the brake or clutch with your shoes on. Applying pressure with the ball of your foot puts your foot under a lot of stress. Wearing a shoe will distribute the pressure evenly across the sole of the shoe, saving your feet from the exertion of a lot of pressure.<\/p>\n<p>Without footwear on, your feet may end up cramping, having spasms, or getting blisters from repeatedly using the pedals. The rough surface on each pedal is designed to grip your shoe, and may cause additional discomfort if it digs into your bare foot. Needless to say, this reduces the ability of a driver to efficiently drive the vehicle. The driver may feel painful, uncomfortable, and distracted over time, even if they don&#8217;t realize it.<\/p>\n<p>If your bare feet are wet or you have extremely sweaty feet, it can be super dangerous to drive your car, as the wet feet can make the pedals slippery and slip off the pedals due to insufficient grip. (Even if you don\u2019t have sweaty feet naturally, repeatedly pressing the pedals without wearing shoes can cause your feet to sweat.) You may encounter a situation where you can\u2019t stop the car in an emergency, due to the wetness causing the foot to slip off or not allowing you to exert enough pressure.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, it is advisable that you don\u2019t drive barefoot, even if it is completely legal. Additionally, driving in sandals, high heels, clogs and other slippery shoes is risky as these can easily slip off your feet and interfere with your ability to stop the vehicle safely.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve dressed wrong for the day and are unable to drive in your fancy new stilettos, going barefoot might be the more viable and prudent option. In such cases, remove your sandals, clogs or high heels and put them on the passenger seat or on the floor, away from the pedals so that they don\u2019t fall under the brake and gas pedals, causing difficulty in accelerating, stopping or slowing down.<\/p>\n<p>The same applies to nylon socks or tights\u2014these can reduce the traction between the pedals and your foot, leading to a lot of slipping and loss of traction. They also don\u2019t let you exert sufficient pressure on the pedals.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A-Case-for-Barefoot-Driving\"><\/span>A Case for Barefoot Driving<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While many folks, legal and otherwise, will tell you not to drive barefoot, there\u2019s quite a significant population that believes it\u2019s safer to drive barefoot instead of driving with sandals. They believe doing so gives them better control while driving and a better range to use their toes while driving, as opposed to big, heavy footwear or sandals that could slip off easily.<\/p>\n<p>Apart from these reasons, there are also people who swear by driving barefoot because it gives them more precise control over the pedals. While it&#8217;s definitely true that you can feel the pedals better with a thinner sole, consider a specialized driving or racing shoe to help you out with this. Driving shoes are thin enough to feel exactly what the car is doing, but still tough enough to protect your feet.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The-Ideal-Driving-Shoes\"><\/span>The Ideal Driving Shoes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Suitable shoes are extremely important while driving. Bare feet don\u2019t allow the same braking force as feet with shoes do, according to the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).<\/p>\n<p>The ideal shoes should:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Have a sole that isn\u2019t thicker than 10 mm<\/li>\n<li>Not be too soft or thing<\/li>\n<li>Provide sufficient grip so that feet don\u2019t slip off the pedals<\/li>\n<li>Not be too heavy or limit movement of the ankle<\/li>\n<li>Be narrow enough to prevent any accidental pressing of two pedals at once<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In short, this means no high heels, walking or snow boots or flip flops.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The-Bottom-Line\"><\/span>The Bottom Line<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Ultimately, it isn\u2019t illegal to drive barefoot anywhere in the vast plains, deserts and mountains of the United States\u2014you\u2019re legally free to drive wearing any kind of footwear you desire.<\/p>\n<p>However, as mentioned earlier, legal clearance doesn\u2019t mean that going barefoot is the recommended way to go. While you may find it infinite times more comfortable to drive barefoot than with shoes on, it is recommended that you do the latter in the interest of not just yours, but everyone\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n<p>You never know when a mishap could occur and the probability of mishaps occurring is higher with bare feet than with shoes. Freak accidents could put your life at high risk; you may be unable to apply enough pressure on the pedals or be unable to get a grip on the pedals.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, though it may feel like driving barefoot is justified just because it is legal, do consider the many other risks associated with it. Ultimately, at the end of the day, whether you\u2019re driving barefoot or not, it\u2019s all about staying safe and keeping others safe and if this means wearing shoes (at no cost to you but the disregarding of your wardrobe preference\u2014and how much you paid for the shoes!), so be it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maybe you live in sunny Florida, where the weather is gloriously warm and sunny throughout the year. Perhaps you\u2019re always running late, and frequently jump into the car without your shoes on. Maybe you\u2019re forgetful, or maybe, just maybe, you just don\u2019t like footwear. Whatever your reason may be, you have a penchant for going &#8230; <a title=\"Is Driving Barefoot Illegal in the US?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/is-driving-barefoot-illegal-in-the-us\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Is Driving Barefoot Illegal in the US?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[20],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=299"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":591,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299\/revisions\/591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivehomesafe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}