Call Us: Is Driving Barefoot Illegal In California?
Driving barefoot could pose a very great safety risk, not only for yourself, but also those around you. However, we have heard many people say that they feel as though they can focus more on driving when they are barefoot. This article below discusses whether or not driving barefoot is legal in California, along with other steps and precautions you may have to take when driving barefoot.
Although it may seem very uncommon, many people still prefer to drive barefoot than with shoes on. This seems very strange, but many people have even admitted to driving barefoot at least at one point in their lives.
In California, there is no specific law that prohibits driving barefoot. This could be good news for many that enjoy driving barefoot. There are several other states in the United States where it is legal to drive barefoot. These states include:
- Iowa
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New York
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
Even though these above states have not made driving barefoot illegal, it is up to the city or municipality to further pass any other laws that are more specific. Check with your city laws or municipality laws for more information to see if there are any that address driving barefoot.
Why do people drive barefoot?
One of the most common reasons why many people choose to drive barefoot is because wearing certain footwear may make it harder to drive, and have a grip on the gas and brake pedal. For example, when one wears high heels, the heels could make it difficult to drive and maneuver around the pedal as you remove your foot to go from gas to brake.
Although driving barefoot may be legal, it is not considered to be a good idea. To many who are driving barefoot for the first time, and may not have experience driving Barefoot, it could be a very unsafe practice, and place other drivers, pedestrians, and motorcyclists in danger. Although drivers may have more control on a gas or brake pedal, it could still pose a safety risk and interfere with proper driving operation. For example, if you were involved in a car accident, and a police officer believes that you driving barefoot was a large reason for the accident, it could get marked in a police report.
Police reports are written up by officers after an accident, and describe how the accident occurred, the parties involved, and where the accident occurred. An officer may go around from party to party and ask several questions to determine the cause of the accident. Not every police report may explain the cause of the accident, but it may help you if you were to file a future lawsuit.
This means that you could potentially get a citation from a police officer if they believed that driving barefoot was the cause of the accident or vehicle violation.
Can I drive a motorcycle barefoot in California?
In California, there are no laws that prohibit driving a motorcycle barefoot. This can come as a complete shock, especially because a motorcycle does not have the barrier a car might have. For example, things that may be flying on the roads and freeways may hit the motorcycle drivers. If the motorcycle driver does not have shoes on, it could cause severe injuries to their legs and feet. The only state that mandates shoes while driving a motorcycle is the state of Alabama.
What are some dangers involved with driving barefoot?
Even though many may think driving barefoot may not seem as dangerous, there are still possibilities of a car accident caused by negligent driving. Examples include:
- Braking: when you are braking and coming to a stop, it may be easier to push down on the brake pedal when you have shoes on. The weight of the shoes help you hit the brakes quicker. When you do not have shoes on, it may be more difficult when pushing your foot down on the brake pedal.
- Slipping: if you were to drive barefoot, And your feet were wet, your foot could slip off the gas or brake pedal, and cause an accident.
What other shoes are dangerous when driving?
Driving with certain shoes could also be very dangerous. Examples of some shoes that you should be cautious of include:
- Flip flops: when you drive with flip flops, your flip-flops can slip off the pedals, or even flip up above the pedals. This could make it difficult to reach the gas or brake pedal, and result in an accident. Flip-flops are considered to be bendable rubber, which could bend in between the pedals and cause an accident.
- High heels: heels that can be very high could cause your foot to be elevated when braking the pedal, and you may not have enough force to hit the brake pedal if you wanted your car to come to a complete stop quickly.
Can I drive a truck barefoot?
In California, there is no law that specifically outlaws barefoot driving in trucks. This is similar to California’s car and motorcycle laws. But, those who drive trucks are usually employees that carry goods from one point to another. These employees may be subject to their own workplace conditions and regulations, which may enforce the employee to wear shoes.
What if I was involved in a car accident and was barefoot?
If you are involved in a car accident, and the police or other investigators determine that you are partially responsible for the accident because you drove barefoot, you may still recover compensation for your injuries. However, it is decreased depending on the percentage of liability.
For example, if you were driving barefoot, and were 50% responsible for the accident, you could recover only 50% of your damages from the other parties. It may be different in other states, call our attorneys for more information regarding your barefoot car accident.
Have you been involved in a car accident in California?
Contact our car accident attorneys today. Our attorneys have decades of experience representing those who have been injured in a car accident. We know exactly what to do after a car accident to make sure that you not only get the medical attention you deserve, but also the compensation to move forward with your life. It could be very difficult to go through a car accident, especially because of the emotional trauma that you may have to deal with. Emotional distress is very common to those who have been involved in car accidents and have sustained severe injuries. It could be very frustrating to go through physical injuries, especially if it was caused by another negligent party. Examples of emotional distress include society and depression.
For more information, contact our car accident lawyers today for a free no risk consultation. Our car accident attorneys are always available to speak to you on the phone, or in person at one of our offices. We always make sure that we are readily convenient to our clients in any case that they have questions or concerns regarding their lawsuit.