Some say it is illegal, although I do not think it is illegal in any state. But then there are debates that insurance companies and lawyers will go crazy if someone is involved in a accident and was found driving barefooted.
Some say it is illegal, although I do not think it is illegal in any state. But then there are debates that insurance companies and lawyers will go crazy if someone is involved in a accident and was found driving barefooted.
Opinions?
Illegal in most states.. Enforced is questionable... But, if you crash and claim your shoe got under the pedal, expect a citation.. I like the feeling,, but in socks it is to easy to slip off the pedal.. bare foot isn't much better and might be why they don't want people driving this way.. I use ocean walking sneakers/shoes in my fun cars.. (think sneaker with no hard bottom, but has a thin rubber to grip but you still feel every rock under your foot)
Illegal in most states.. Enforced is questionable... But, if you crash and claim your shoe got under the pedal, expect a citation.. I like the feeling,, but in socks it is to easy to slip off the pedal.. bare foot isn't much better and might be why they don't want people driving this way.. I use ocean walking sneakers/shoes in my fun cars.. (think sneaker with no hard bottom, but has a thin rubber to grip but you still feel every rock under your foot)
You have a source on it being illegal? From my understanding it is perfectly legal in all States.
I had to research this for my job several times, because it was a question that I was often asked. Unless something has changed in the last few years, barefoot driving is not prohibited in any state.
I had to research this for my job several times, because it was a question that I was often asked. Unless something has changed in the last few years, barefoot driving is not prohibited in any state.
Why is there so much confliction on this? So many people say yes it is illegal and so many law resources say it is legal to drive barefoot. Reminds me of the airplane on a conveyor belt question.
I think it's legal now, but in the past, it was illegal in Georgia. When the beaches of Lake Lanier began to open, the police would stop people leaving just to see if they had shoes on. Around the same time in the late 50's and early 60's, it was even illegal for a man to drive without wearing a shirt of some kind.
Like in Keel's reference to a shoe getting under the pedal, I've had that happen on a long all day drive when I slipped my shoes off and turned on the cruise. Moving around, I managed to get a sneaker laying on it's side up underneath the brake pedal. Good thing it wasn't an emergency stop when I first applied the brakes.
All I know is if driving from a beach in this state and you get pulled over and the officer see's you with your shoes off, and in your foot wellyou are getting a ticket for driving to endanger ticket.. Above what you got pulled over for.. If shoes and socks are on pass side or back floor , you are ok.. driving in socks will get you that ticket.. I've been pulled over at beach and had bare feet, with shoes/socks in back of driver seat.. And it was "heavily " advised that I put them on.. I read this as put them on and you'll get a warning, don't enjoy your ticket for 33 in a 20 zone.. I drive home from the races barefoot with shoes in the bed of the truck as they stink at the end of 5 days of 15-17 hours shifts in them.. and have flip flops behind the seat.. I had them in the foot well once and had to stop fast and they both went under the pedals.. not good.. Truck has a rubber floor mat/carpet so they went past the pedals and tried to climb the firewall.. With all the wrecks with people claiming something under the pedal cause it. If I'm driving barefoot the shoes are not in the drivers foot well.. EVER..
[This message has been edited by E.Furgal (edited 08-12-2017).]
Personally, i dont even like going barefoot outside the house. Ive never done it, but I think id find driving barefoot very uncomfortable. I think you can put more pressure on brake and gas pedals with shoes. Seems to me that the shoe spreads out the pressure over a larger area on the pedal, where barefoot, you using mostly small areas like the ball and toes instead needing more pressure to work them. Its easier to push something heavy like a box with your foot than just your toes.
Personally, i dont even like going barefoot outside the house. Ive never done it, but I think id find driving barefoot very uncomfortable. I think you can put more pressure on brake and gas pedals with shoes. Seems to me that the shoe spreads out the pressure over a larger area on the pedal, where barefoot, you using mostly small areas like the ball and toes instead needing more pressure to work them. Its easier to push something heavy like a box with your foot than just your toes.
Depends my racing footwear bottom isn't much more than a slipper , So you can "feel" everything better while you heel and toe.. trail braking/etc
If I'm wearing flip flops and driving my Wrangler (manual trans) they ALWAYS come off. The back of the flip flop will catch the floor mat every time I let out the clutch pedal. It's more dangerous to drive with them on than to go barefoot. Personally I like driving barefoot.
Depends my racing footwear bottom isn't much more than a slipper , So you can "feel" everything better while you heel and toe.. trail braking/etc
I just like the weight and solid feeling of the shoe on the pedal. To me its far more comfortable. Old school racers loved loafers and boots to drive. "racing' shoes are for their fire resistance far as I know. I liked racing in loafers or harder soled sneakers myself. Nowadays, they get blistered and burned feet wearing their cute little driving shoes. My feet were never even tired... I roundy tracked, so heel/toe finesse was worthless. Put it in high gear and go.
Why is there so much confliction on this? So many people say yes it is illegal and so many law resources say it is legal to drive barefoot. Reminds me of the airplane on a conveyor belt question.
Because a lot of people probably talk without looking it up.
Because a lot of people probably talk without looking it up.
More like someone knows someone that a cop gave them a rant over it.. Most expect an officers words on the law to be correct when they are ranting on ,put your shoes on..
More like someone knows someone that a cop gave them a rant over it.. Most expect an officers words on the law to be correct when they are ranting on ,put your shoes on..
It is true offers sometimes don't know the law without looking it up either. Or just need something to justify... etc
I personally witnessed a driver getting a ticket in 1972 for no shoes while driving. So for years and years I believed it illegal. Then when my oldest daughter started driving she learned in her Drivers Ed class that it was not illegal and informed me. That's when I started researching the topic and found her statements were true. No state specifically has a law banning operating a motor vehicle without shoes. Could an officer give a ticket for unsafe driving or some other variant because of no shoes? I'm betting yes. And you would have to fight it in court.
Is it ok to drive a car barefooted? or w/ socks etc? Illegal? nope. At least not at state level. I looked in many places last year. Good Idea? nope.
Can't control the car driving with bad shoes, barefoot or w/ only socks etc? While you may not get charged by cops but could still be sued.
Most OEM pedal where you hit them are "rubber" to hard plastics. Some OEM pedals are metal or hard plastic w/ patterns to grip a shoe. (Ignoring aftermarket "pedals." Many of them are complete garbage. Many others are for custom/race cars.)
A lot of sharp stuff and Crap gets transfer from shoe to pedal. I have farmers friends but even in cities you often track dog waste and far worse on your shoes and drive. Then going to drive sock/bare feet on the same pedals then put feet back into the same shoes? Not a good thing. Bad smell could only be the start of feet troubles.
Many pedals have hard edges right from the factory or get sharp edges as they wear. Some so sharp can cut bare feet. Many pedals are poorly design/made and you put a lot of load in a small area w/o shoes. Shoes can spread that load. Depending on material, socks etc can make pedal(s) slippery. Often Very slippery.
I only "drive" barefoot in rare cases just to move a car a very short distance like feet to yards to unblock a another car, delivery, etc.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
I roundy tracked, so heel/toe finesse was worthless. Put it in high gear and go.
