Driving barefoot, yay / nay?

[Mikem53]

I do this a lot on long trips.. The vibrations coming thru keep u awake and it feels good.

[RurumariGhost]

I drive in minimalist shoes like my vibrams, new balance minimus 2's, or even my tom's shoes, all the time. I like the feel they give me for the pedals. When wearing flip flops or slip on shoes though, off they come as soon as I'm in the car.

[Ammonia]

Originally Posted by thill

For a motorcycle maybe, but for a car, I think very few states ban it. At least that is what a quick Google search showed:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_it_ille...cle_barefooted

Thanks for the info. Apparently its not illegal anywhere lol. Or am I reading it wrong

[thill]

Originally Posted by Ammonia

Thanks for the info. Apparently its not illegal anywhere lol. Or am I reading it wrong

No, it looks legal in every state from what I can tell. They might say "not recommended" but that does not make it illegal.

[radroach]

I tried barefoot driving a few times, the pedals are too hard to comfortably press along with the rubber studs pressing uncomfortably against the bottom of my feet.

I have to wear certain shoes to drive the car right. Normal tennis shoes work fine but I typically wear a 7+ year old pair of new balances that feel best for pedal feel.

[Barbarian]

I normally drive with shoes, unless I'm wearing flip flops. Then they come off immediately. I won't change shoes specifically because I'm going to go drive though.

[ftc~brz]

If I'm not sporting my pumas I'm barefoot usually. I learned stick that way. Easier to get a feel for the gas clutch transition. Also driving in heels can be dangerous

[SkAsphalt]

The reason it is illegal to drive barefoot in so many regions has to do with safety
1. getting out of car in emergency barefoot isnt safe
2. slamming on the breaks barefoot isn't safe
3. getting into an accident barefoot isn't safe
4. people's feet are different sizes, so wearing shoes helps provide a wide flat surface to control the pedals with - more predictable than a bare foot. basically pedals are designed to be used with a shoe

etc etc etc

[RedLeader]

Originally Posted by SkAsphalt

3. getting into an accident barefoot isn't safe

THIS. From experience, this hurts. I was just wearing socks in my last car (09 GTI w/ DSG) when I got t-boned. Both feet were near the pedals because I was plling away from an itersection and the force of the impact slammed my feet against the side of the pedals. I didn't break anything, but my feet were very sore, had some major bruises and some minor cuts, and walking was really really uncomfortable for about 2-3 weeks.

I never drive barefoot anymore after that. Sure, my chuck taylors are probably not a lot better, but I feel better about it.

[s0sl0w]

If I'm wearing flip flops I drive barefoot, that being the case I can't say it's a preference as the lack of shoes makes heel-toeing difficult.

[DaJo]

Taken from my local police department...


Q) Are you allowed to drive with bare feet?*
A) The short answer is yes.

The more complex answer is that while legal, driving with bare feet or other, less sturdy footwear may compromise your ability to control your vehicle should you be faced with changing road conditions, a collision or some other emergency.Here are a couple of examples:

• Going bare foot – some of you love to drive with bare feet. Please keep in mind, though, that it’s all about protecting your feet should you need to get out of your vehicle onto unstable or debris covered ground. An example would be if you were involved in a collision and the only way to a place of safety was across glass-littered ground.

• High heels may look nice, but they change your foot position and alignment. The foot is pointed and the heel is not fully resting on the floor (instead, it’s balanced on the heel point), which may make it more difficult for you to move your foot from pedal to pedal.

• Flip-flops are the go-to summer sandal, but they are less sturdy than shoes. They also live up to their name by flip-flopping around, which may not be conducive to safe driving.

• Wearing flip-flops while driving a motorcycle - it’s legal, but your feet will have no protection should you need to put your foot down quickly, and a flip-flop would simply disintegrate on the pavement – ouch! Beware of extreme road rash.

*So while the decision of what to wear on your feet while driving is up to you, please take into consideration what you will do if the road conditions change or if you are involved in a collision.This advice carries over into other seasons as well, and the same can be said for driving in ski boots. Legal, but perhaps not the best decision.

Happy driving, everyone!

[Miniata]

I used to do it more often, but not as much anymore. The times I still do it are usually on long trips, like where I'll be behind the wheel for 12-20 hours or more at a time. A lot of it depends on what shoes I'm wearing. The less comfortable the shoe, the more likely it will be coming off after 3-4 hours.

[Hanakuso]

No but I prefer driving in slippas

wth is a flip flop lol

[Dazza]

Originally Posted by radroach

I tried barefoot driving a few times, the pedals are too hard to comfortably press along with the rubber studs pressing uncomfortably against the bottom of my feet.

I have to wear certain shoes to drive the car right. Normal tennis shoes work fine but I typically wear a 7+ year old pair of new balances that feel best for pedal feel.

next time you get a pedicure ask them whether your feet should just HTFU!!