Is Driving Barefoot Really Illegal?

Is putting your sole into driving really a crime?

If you've been involved in barefooting for a while there's a very high likelihood that someone has informed you that driving while barefoot is illegal. It's difficult to say where this notion started though, like most urban legends, it has persisted for a very long time and still shows no signs of going away any time soon.

So, is it illegal to drive barefoot? Well, like most legal issues, the answer is a little more complex than 'yes' or 'no'. In the United States there are no laws concerning the operation of a motor vehicle without shoes in any of the 50 States. In Ohio it is specifically noted that it is 'not recommended', however there is no legal ramification associated with the recommendation. Therefore it is not illegal to drive your car barefoot in the United States.

This applies solely to cars, trucks and similar motor vehicles. Operating a motorcycle while barefoot is illegal in almost, if not every, State in the U.S. due to laws requiring proper footwear and head protection. If it is illegal to drive a motorcycle sans helmet in your area, than there is a good chance shoes are required as well.

While there are no state traffic codes in the United States prohibiting driving a car while barefoot, it should also be noted that some cities may have municipal codes restricting operating a motor vehicle barefoot. These are rare, but if you would like to drive barefoot often it would be a good idea to double check local ordinances and make sure there are no restrictions.

It should also be noted that if you are pulled over for another violation and the officer writing the ticket feels that your lack of footwear contributed to the accident than they may add a reckless driving charge on top of everything else. This is at the discretion of the officer, so it doesn't make driving barefoot illegal - you could get a reckless driving charge for causing an accident wearing platform shoes just as easily.

So, with some asides, driving barefoot is not illegal. Does that make it a good idea to drive barefoot? That's up to you in the end. Some contend that driving barefoot allows more fine motor control which enhances driving. Others say the opposite, or argue that shoes help protect from minor injuries in the event of an accident. Before you make the decision whether or not to drive barefoot, always double check with all the traffic laws that will apply to you and consider any potential downsides.

To recap:

• Driving while barefoot is not illegal at the Federal or State level anywhere in the U.S.

• Operating a motorcycle while barefoot is illegal in most States in conjunction with the illegality of operating a motorcycle without a helmet.

• You can be ticketed for reckless operation for being barefoot if you are pulled over or in an accident and the officer feels that being barefoot contributed to the accident. This is at the officer's discretion and does not make driving while barefoot illegal.

• Whether or not driving barefoot is advisable is debatable and has to be determined by the individual. There are numerous pros and cons put forth by members of both the shod and unshod camps.

• Always double check all traffic codes that will apply to you before deciding to drive barefoot as checking every local ordinance in the country is beyond the reasonable scope of research for this article. Additionally, this article is for informational purposes only and not intended to serve as legal council - so please double check first.