Is it Legal to Drive Barefoot in California?
The sun is out, the warm breeze is coming through your car window, and you take off your shoes to let your feet breathe while you’re stuck in traffic. “That’s illegal,” your passenger says to you.
Have you ever been in that situation? Many people just assume it’s prohibited to drive barefoot without actually knowing the answer. So, is it or not?
Can I Take My Shoes Off While Driving?
It’s actually legal to drive barefoot in California, even if you’re driving a motorcycle! As of right now, there are no federal or state laws that say you can’t drive a car without shoes. Other vehicles, like motorcycles, vary from state to state. And some local jurisdictions may have ordinances governing driving a car barefoot in the area. Other states have laws prohibiting driving a motorcycle barefoot, but it’s not illegal in any area to drive a car without shoes. That being said, it’s not advised.
Is Driving Barefoot Safe?
While driving barefoot isn’t illegal, it’s strongly discouraged, just like driving with flip flops. Policemen generally don’t recommend it, because it can make it more difficult to drive; your feet can slip off the pedals. Secondly, the shoes you removed are a hazard and could potentially get in the way of your feet or even get stuck under the pedals. In fact, driving with the wrong shoes or no shoes at all is a lot more dangerous than you think.
An insurance company in Britain recently studied drivers on their habits. 80% of survey takers reported they regularly wear inappropriate (or no) footwear. One in ten of the drivers surveyed reported they’d been in an accident, or almost been in an accident, because of their footwear.
Most people don’t think before they slip their shoes off because most people don’t think driving barefoot is really that dangerous, but it does pose some real hazards.
What Happens if I Get in an Accident While Barefoot?
If the safety hazards don’t discourage you from driving barefoot, maybe the thought of getting a reckless driving charge will. True, a police officer can’t give you a ticket for driving barefoot. But if you get in an accident, which is found to be somehow related to your barefoot driving, you could face reckless driving or negligence charges – which will certainly affect your ability to get insurance coverage. It may even make you vulnerable to litigation from the other party.
For example, the state of California allows you to collect money from an insurance policy depending on how much you’re at fault for the accident. The amount of money you can collect depends on how liable you are. Clearly, a negligent or reckless driving charge will render you majorly at fault, meaning you most likely won’t receive compensation and the other party may collect money from you. In short, use your brain before deciding to go barefoot or not. While it is legal, it’s not very safe and can have potential consequences.
Experienced personal injury lawyers and car accident lawyers in San Diego from Liljegren Law Group fight hard on behalf of our clients to get them the compensation they deserve. Reach out to us today to learn more about safe driving in California. If you’ve been involved in a car accident and want to know more about your legal options, we can help.