Driving in FlipFlops/Barefoot?

Question

Is it legal to drive barefot or in flipflops. I know that it used to be illegal, but I think that may have changed. Does anyone have recent proof from the DMV website or anything like that?

Answer 1

I don't think it matters.

I used to live in Hawaii, and many of us drive barefoot or with flip flops.

It could be reginional - if just law exists.  Where do you live?

Good Luck...

Answer 2

I don't drive but I go barefoot always and everywhere, and I do know that in spite of persistent myths in the US, there are NO laws against driving barefoot in ANY state. Unfortunately, this myth is so common that even some cops believe it (and apparently, some driving instructors as one of the previous answers shows)... but everyone who believes this please see source and stop spreading this falsity.

Some cops are convinced it's unsafe and even though they know it's not illegal may try to write you up for unsafe or reckless driving, however please see the second and third link in the source, for two sites (one from the Michigan PD, one from an Australian newspaper) making it clear that driving barefoot is no more unsafe than many types of footwear that are regularly worn and could even be considered safer than many kinds of shoes.

Of course you should also think of what you are used to; personally I haven't worn footwear for eleven years and my feet are easily strong enough. Driving with any kind of shoe would feel like handling the steering wheel with boxing gloves, a pebble won't faze me and I wouldn't worry about having to walk if my car breaks down. On the other extreme end I have a friend who can't walk comfortably barefoot on indoor tile, he'd probably pull back if there was even the smallest pebble, caked mud or other irregularity on the brake pedal, and he'd never be able to walk home if he didn't have shoes. Use a bit of common sense in addition to what the laws and the experts say, anything that's totally opposite from everything you're used to is likely to be a distraction and make you clumsy with your feet.

As for recent info, I'm a member of a mailing list of 1100+ barefooters, most in the US. At least two I know (regular posters) are interstate truck drivers, many others spend many hours on the roads too. We watch these laws *very* carefully! But just to appease a couple other answerers who didn't believe the old info was still valid I did mail the Georgia DMV last April (2008) and got a brief reply ">It is not against the law to drive barefoot in Georgia." and I also recently went over the California DMV website with a fine-toothed comb, still no reference to bare feet when driving.

Answer 3

I drive barefoot it is safer then driving in flip flops it is also more comfortable to drive barefoot plus I hate to wear shoes and I only wear them in public places

Answer 4

Its not illegal to drive barefoot or with flip flops, and contrary to believe has never been...its just BS.  I drive barefoot and even been pulled over before while barefoot and the cop never said anything about me not having on shoes.

Answer 5

i always drive barefooted

Answer 6

Barefoot website..............

http://www.barefooters.org/faq/18.html

Flip-flop website....................

None that I could fine but it would be a safety issue if the flip-flop got stuck while braking but it is like a shoe........

Answer 7

in the u.k + america driving bare foot is illegal.

Something about it lengethning the reaction times because you foot is not a completley flat surface.

But i think it's much safer to drive bare foot than flipflops.

If they didn't see you do it then it never happened right? :)

Answer 8

It's not illegal, but it's frowned against driving barefoot. It's a protection thing if you get pulled over and have to step out of your car, just in case there is broken glass or something.