Barefoot driving

Take this for what it's worth.

Yeah, I do it all the time.

.....a barefoot redneck....who'da thunk it. =-)))

...will wonders never cease.

.....Gareth (who generally will kick his shoes off a couple hours into a roadtrip)

Sure it's legal but you might want to keep some shoes in the trunk in case you have a breakdown or something. Or just watch one of those "Fangs" shows on Discovery and decide never to go barefoot again.

Didn't Shaggie first introduce himself to Ramva as "Travis Barefoot" ? Or was it someone else

:)

Jan

I've had people swear to me that driving barefoot was illegal. I called the state police here in Oregon and asked them about it one time. The guy said they didn't give a rip whether drivers were wearing shoes or not. But it's a very persistent urban legend. I've heard it for years.

Cheers, Walt

Me. I do it rather often in summer. It's also legal here in Germany. But it's supposedly unsafe, because you allegedly cannot apply as much force to the brakes as you can with shoes on (I almost wrote "shod" there, is that a word?). I've had no such troubles yet, but then I haven't needed to make an emergency stop yet while barefoot.

Airhowlingly yours, Erik.

Yeah, I heard it here in the UK recently, still not sure if it is true or not. Seems to be that it doesn't matter - it's legal until you get caught ;-)

Any advantage to driving shoeless?

Anto.

"Antony Hutchison" wrote

If you have internet access, you could try a Google search. ;-)

A quick Google turned up this page:

down to `BAREFOOT DRIVING 101'"driving barefoot is perfectly legal in 49 states, but it is not recommendedin Ohio"

More:

Advantage? I wouldn't think so. But some people just hate wearing shoes. My wife's like that.

Cheers, Walt

For me, I like to drive barefoot in both my vehicles, if possible. I wear a size 11 mens shoe, medium width.

In my '69 Bug, I have one of those center console things on the tunnel. There is barely a shoe's width between the console and the brake pedal. With some of my shoes, I sometimes get hung up on the backside of the brake pedal when releasing the gas pedal. My sandals are the worst. I'll just kick them off when I get in the car and put them back on when I get out.

In my Xterra, I'll drive barefoot when I'm off-roading. A bare foot makes it easier to accurately modulate both the clutch and gas pedals. Nothing like bumping over a rock and hammering the gas pedal with a big, heavy shoe. 8-/

I'll be sure to put my shoes back on before crossing Ohio's state line. ;-)

That was someone else...

Shod is a very correct word and perfectly good grammar.

As in people had their horses shod or (very sexist)

keep your woman poorly shod and pregnant!

Tony

You shod not use such shoddy language. ;PPPP

It's legal in Floriduh. Which is good. Any of you boys ever try driving with a

3 inch platform sole or a 4 inch spike heel? Barefoot is definately good. :)

K "A hundred days to make me older since the last time that I saw your pretty face. A thousand lies to make me colder and I don't think I could look at this the same, but all the miles that seperate disappear now when I remember your face."

I've done it plenty of times. Gives better feel for the clutch and gas pedals. The reasons I've heard not to do it (besides the illegal rumor) is that you can break a toe or jam something if you have to slam on the brakes for something and miss and hit your toe on the pedal....sounds a bit far fetched, but whatever.

~Anthony

I wouldn't do it in our summer... there aren't enough white lines to use as refuge.

Do you still keep the pair of boots in the back of the GTI?

Legal as in not specifically required. :-)

If you're in a crash, it may be argued that a higher proportion of the blame be attributed to you if you're not wearing shoes.

Yes. And it bears no directly relation to "shoddy". English is as much fun as German.

I don't leave the car barefoot either.

If the accident was at least partially due to my stopping too late or not quick enough, yes it may -- in theory. At least, I've nrever heard of anyone ever getting in trouble due to that in real life.

Yes it is. That's why I'm reading this group. ;-)

Airhowlingly yours, Erik.