Driving Barefoot in Ohio: Is It Legal? It is not illegal to drive barefoot in Ohio or virtually any other state in the United States. No law states that drivers cannot drive without shoes on. However, even though it is permitted to drive barefoot, there are several important safety concerns to be considered.
Barefoot Driving Laws in Ohio
There is no law in Ohio’s traffic code that says you can not drive while barefoot. In fact, there is not a single state rule in the U.S. that says you can not drive without shoes.
Many people think it is illegal when it is not because of popular myths or because family and friends have told them not to.
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) doesn’t say anything about what shoes you can wear driving. In other words, if you want to, you can drive barefoot legally.
Is Driving Barefoot Safe?
Even though it is legal, driving without shoes on raises some safety issues. You might think pedaling without shoes is easier, but not really in all cases.
Shoes keep your feet protected and hold onto things better. In case you are driving barefoot, you may face issues like
Less Grip on Pedals: In case you are not wearing shoes, your feet would not be able to gain enough grip on the wheels. Your slip if your feet are wet or sweaty can thus make it troublesome for you to control the car.
Pedal Sensitivity: Shoes would provide you with cushioning, allowing you to maintain the proper amount of foot pressure on the gas and stop pedals.
Driving barefoot may lead to your putting undue or inadequate pressure on the pedals, which can make stopping or speeding up less smooth and more difficult to control.
Risk of Injury: It is more likely to hurt in a crash if you are driving barefoot. In a crash, your feet are out in the open where broken glass, sharp items, or crumpled up metal that has been badly damaged could hurt you seriously.
Pain in Long Stretches of Driving: Your feet are likely to ache and feel tired for quite a long period while driving barefoot, and that can be distracting. If you feel your feet tired or aching, you might find it challenging to keep the pedal on track.
Alternatives to Driving Barefoot
If putting on shoes makes you feel uncomfortable or suffocating, there is an alternative to driving barefoot. For instance, you can:
Wear comfortable driving shoes: Easy soles are more light and bendable, and easy to control. Always wear sneakers or shoes when you want to drive instead of flip-flop shoes or high heels.
Keep driving shoes in your car: If you need to wear shoes that are not comfy to work or an event, then you may want to keep a pair of comfortable shoes in your car for driving. Then, before you hit the road, you can change into these shoes.
Driving socks: Some folks opt to wear driving socks or socks that don’t slip on the wheels, which is better than going barefoot.
Effects of Driving Barefoot in Ohio
Driving barefoot is not illegal in Ohio; however, sometimes, not wearing shoes will get you into trouble.
For example, if you have an accident and it appears that walking barefoot has exacerbated the accident, you could then be subjected to liability. Insurance companies would probably claim that wearing the wrong shoes at times of driving contributed to the accident.
Besides, you could be ticketed for reckless driving or failure to keep control if a police officer feels that driving barefoot makes it harder for you to keep control of the car safely.
Both of these charges are based upon opinion along with the facts of the case. For instance, even though you could not stop in time, if an officer sees that you were driving barefoot, this could be used against you when giving you a ticket.
Barefoot Driving and Vehicle Damage
Not to mention the fact that barefoot driving may sooner or later damage the inside of your car. In case you’re driving an older car, the pedals might hurt your feet or make them feel uncomfortable.
You will also wear down the pedals and mats faster than usual because of the sweat and oils of your skin.
Conclusion: Drive with Caution
In short, it is permissible to drive barefoot in the state of Ohio. However, as common sense suggests, because just because it is legal does not mean it’s safe or a good idea. Driving barefoot is not only more difficult to control the car but also increases the chances that someone in an accident will be injured.
For the safest driving experience, you might want to wear shoes that are both comfortable and proper when you are behind the wheel.
