# Barefoot Driving **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 11, 2003, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675 "2003-07-11T08:11:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/21 "2003-07-11T23:24:19Z")
I’ll second **tannim** ; when I’m wearing flipflops, I kick off the one on the right foot because I’m afraid it will get tangled when I move from one pedal to the other. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/22 "2003-07-11T23:35:38Z")
On long drives I always drive in my stocking feet. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/23 "2003-07-11T23:37:57Z")
There’s a _lot_ of stuff between the soles of your feet and the actual mechanisms (clutch, brake, etc) of the car. I don’t think the thickness of a shoe sole is going to be much of an added hinderence. This subject _has_ been beat to death. But that’s ok. 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/24 "2003-07-12T04:36:46Z")
this is great. it’s free, it’s legal and it feels great. how often does that happen? oh and **mangeorge** there is a lot stuff between you and you computer too, but wuoldn’t gloves make it harder to type? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/25 "2003-07-12T04:52:32Z")
it’s illegal here in Victoria (and I suspect for the rest of Aus as well). ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/26 "2003-07-12T05:16:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Narrad \* > \*\*We’re delving into the realm of opinions here, but I spend most summers driving a manual car with bare feet. I find it easier to judge the interplay between clutch and throttle without a thick-soled pair of shoes between me and the pedals. > > For that matter, I can’t imagine too many women driving cars in their high-heeled shoes. Carrying a flat-soled pair of shoes in the car is a possibility, but it seems most of them drive in their stockings or bare feet instead. \*\* I find that driving bare foot hurts my feet considerably, and I’m fairly sure I couldn’t safely do an emergency stop, as I would flinch from the pain. None of my friends drive barefoot rather than drive in heels though. It’s easy to drive in high heeled shoes (depending on the position of the pedals, it’s sometimes easier to drive in high heeled shoes than flat ones - some pedals are postioned rather high, which is fine if you’re male & have larger feet, but not if you’re female & tiny). The only reason I don’t tend to drive in my high heels is that the back of the shoe tends to rub on the driving mat/carpet & it gets worn, so if it’s a good pair of shoes, I take another flatter pair with me & swap over (which is bad when you come back to the car on a winter evening & have **cold** shoes waiting for you! :D). ---
**Author:** ![capnfutile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@capnfutile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capnfutile)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/27 "2003-07-12T05:46:50Z")
I’ve tried driving barefoot and didn’t like it. Why? Because I misjudged the distance to the pedal and caught my toenail on the pedal pad. Ouchy. I suppose once I got used to it, it wouldn’t be so bad, but think about it - you have a large possible contact area with a shoe, but if you’re barefoot you have to hit pretty close to the ball of your foot to prevent discomfort/losing control. The comofort/safety tradeoff isn’t worth it to me. Then there are those of us cursed with StinkFoot, in which case in comes down to safety issues for the passengers… capn ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/28 "2003-07-12T06:50:58Z")
question for those who feel barefoot driving is uncomfertable, do you make a habit of going barefoot un other things? when i was younger i broke my thigh. as a result i did not walk for 3 months. when i did start walking, it was painfull at first for my feet. my feet were just not used to the stresses of walking. just a guess but based on that i would say that wearing shoes shelters your feet from slight bending, uneven pressure, ect. you would get from walking on nature’s floor (which is not nearly as smooth as your floor). anyway to sum it up it’s not painfull if your foot is used to it. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/29 "2003-07-12T07:08:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kambuckta \* > \*\*it’s illegal here in Victoria (and I suspect for the rest of Aus as well). \*\* Actually, I just had a cursory glance through Western Australia’s _Road Traffic Act_. I can’t find any reference to compulsory wearing of footwear. It’s possible there’s supplementary regulation to that effect, but I rather doubt it. I don’t know enough about Victoria’s road traffic legislation to look up your state law, however. **fierra** , thanks for the correction. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/30 "2003-07-12T14:26:19Z")
Even if it was illegal, I don’t know what they’d do to me – I use hand controls. No pedals at all. I have been known to kick my shoes off on long trips, since I’m not using my feet at all. But it wouldn’t matter ANYWAY since I brake with my left hand. ---
**Author:** ![Bugnorton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bugnorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bugnorton)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/31 "2003-07-12T14:55:39Z")
Waaay back when I was learning to drive (in Northern Virginia) it was a commonly held belief that the legal footwear requirement was something the poilce force could use to harrass “hippies”. Now that I’ve read that I feel pretty much like shuffling over to the kitchen and gulping a big shot of Geritol. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/32 "2003-07-12T15:08:34Z")
It is legal to drive barefooted in Texas, but not sockfooted. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/33 "2003-07-12T15:40:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by netscape 6 \* > \*\*this is great. it’s free, it’s legal and it feels great. how often does that happen? > > oh and **mangeorge** there is a lot stuff between you and you computer too, but wuoldn’t gloves make it harder to type? \*\* 😃 Like wearing a raincoat in the shower. I wonder how many formula 1 drivers drive barefoot? Or NASCAR? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/34 "2003-07-12T15:45:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whiterabbit \* > \*\*Even if it was illegal, I don’t know what they’d do to me – I use hand controls. No pedals at all. I have been known to kick my shoes off on long trips, since I’m not using my feet at all. But it wouldn’t matter ANYWAY since I brake with my left hand. \*\* Well then you have to wear **netscape 6** ’s gloves. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/35 "2003-07-12T16:40:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by t-keela \* > \*\*It is legal to drive barefooted in Texas, but not sockfooted. \*\* Can you cite what Texas statute says this? ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/36 "2003-07-12T18:04:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by netscape 6 \* > \*\*question for those who feel barefoot driving is uncomfertable, do you make a habit of going barefoot un other things? \*\* I wander round the house barefooted almost all the time, and often onto the back patio. When I was younger, I would walk barefoot to the local shops, to the horror & shame of my mother :D. I would happily walk on surfaces that friends found too rough or too hot in the past too, so I don’t think it’s that. I just find even squarely putting the ball of my foot area down on the pedal that it hurts. I don’t know why though when walking doesn’t - I always just assumed it was a pressure per unit area thing, but it may also be to do with the angle of the foot to the pedal, as opposed to the same small area when you’re walking on a flat surface. I wonder if anyone has done studies into the amount of force needed to say, brake, in the average car vs the force on the same area of your foot when you’re walking? ---
**Author:** ![frithrah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frithrah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frithrah)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/37 "2003-07-12T19:51:30Z")
Here in Florida it is legal. I attended a driver improvement class years ago to keep points off of my license. The instructor was a retired Highway Patrol Officer. He bemoaned the number of accidents caused by long distance drivers using cruise control and nodding off at the wheel. He said the best thing you can do is to let the pedal burn into the bottom of your bare foot. It can be uncomfortable, but keeps you aware. So here it is not only allowed, it is recommended. ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/38 "2003-07-12T19:53:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*😃 > Like wearing a raincoat in the shower. > I wonder how many formula 1 drivers drive barefoot? Or NASCAR? \*\* well they are not going to tattoo ads to their feet,😃 i bet they were shoes for the same reason their pit crew does. it looks proffesional and that pavement gets pretty hot. maybe at the speed they drive the forces might be pretty hard on their feet. oh and i don’t mind if **whiterabbit** borrows my gloves. ---
**Author:** ![Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercury)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/39 "2003-07-12T20:45:00Z")
I used to have a long drive to school, and I often wore very high heels. Occasionally I would take my shoes off. (Only if I were in heels, never if I were in sneakers or flats.) My car has a very wide brake pedal and is automatic. This habit ended when the rubber pedal cover fell off the clutch pedal in my dad’s car. I wear slippers or sneakers now. ---
**Author:** ![teleute12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@teleute12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teleute12)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675/40 "2003-07-12T21:18:40Z")
I drive barefoot when I’m wearing heels or sandels, or anything else where I can’t feel how much pressure I’m putting on the gas/brake/clutch through the shoe. Also, in heels, the angle of my foot on the pedal would be different, 'cause of that extra stuff sticking out of the back of my shoe. So, barefoot it is. It hurts my foot, sometimes, to keep that much pressure on the gas pedal, but that’s what cruse control is good for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-driving/187675.md?page=3)