I never realized there were so many people who drove barefoot.
I guess I’m a prude (don’t like my feet naked in the car, but they give it up at home). I’ve tried driving barefoot before, but every time I do, I feel like my feet are slipping around on the pedals, that I can’t put as much pressure on them as when shod and that my feet are more likely to get tangled up with the pedals than when I’m wearing shoes.
To be fair, the OP did ask. 
I take off my shoes when I am driving long distance or in the heat, but I throw them to the passenger side so there’s no way they can find their way behind the pedals.
[hijack]Actually, one of the first things the crew will be telling you in case of an airplane emergency is “SHOES OFF” so you can slide down the emergency slide without somersaulting onto the tarmac or damaging the slide…[/hijack]
As to the actual discussion: I’ve once had a flip-flop slide off my foot and get stuck under the brake pedal - very scary.
Since I’ve had the same question today myself I did some research: Over here in Germany, apparently, barefoot driving is not forbidden per se. Although it seems that you might be at fault if an accident happens because you are barefoot (e.g. if you can’t push down on the brake pedal hard enough).
I think “hijack” is the WRONG internet shorthand to use in that post! :eek:
I don’t like to drive barefoot. It hurts. All you weirdos can continue to drive barefoot if you like, though, it doesn’t bother me.
When I got a speeding ticket in California a couple of decades or so ago, I was given the opportunity to atone for my sin by attending a driver training class rather than getting points on my license. The instructor was a Highway Patrolman. He must have talked for 20 minutes about the people (usually women) who would struggle like mad to get their shoes on when they were pulled over–sometimes trying to pull over while putting on shoes so he wouldn’t know they were driving barefoot. The punch line, of course, was that there’s no law in California against driving barefoot.
I’ve never checked here in Montana.
Do you have long monkey toes or what? :eek:
How does being barefoot tangle up your feet with the pedals? 
Nope, no monkey toes. Though my son has 'em - must have skipped a generation. I just feel like my shoes provide a wider, consistent platform while my toes are more spread out. It’s more of a mental thing, really. I just feel like my feet are all over the place where my shoes stay in one place.
I found when driving barefoot that I could control the pedal better, by curling my toes over the top of it.
Thank you, Earthworm Jim, but I *won’t * be carpooling with you afterall.
Hey! I fly barefoot, too!
Although I must say, it’s quite different than in a car. Airplane rudder pedals are frequently much wider and longer than the gas/brake/clutch pedals in a car, and thus less likely to dig into a tender spot. Must add that in such circustances the shoes are secured so they don’t crash about or interfere with anything, but also readily available in the event they are needed quickly.
Oh, wait - perhaps you were referring to flying as a commercial passenger and not a pilot…
It’s all good!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who drives barefoot.
It is nice on long trips and right after standing at work in steel toed boots for 12 hours.
Yes, it would suck if there were an accident and glass everywhere.
But my sandles are close at hand, and unless it was a big accident I should be able to grab them easily enough.
I’ve never had my foot slip off the petal while barefoot. I have with high heels though.
In Spain it’s illegal. You have to drive “wearing appropiate shoes (no flip-flops, mules, stilettos).”
So, since I learned to drive in Spain, I’ve never done it barefoot.