Whenever I’m wearing sandals or flip-flops, I usually slide them off when I get in the car and drive barefoot. I find I get a better feel for the pedals. Is it more dangerous to drive barefoot? Is it legal? – Andrew, Toronto
When it comes to driving barefoot, think on your feet.
Driving without shoes could keep you from braking in time to avoid a crash, safety experts said.
“We all know that even a small stone in your shoe feels like stepping on a nail,” said Ian Law, president and chief instructor of ILR Car Control School in Brampton, Ont. “So [a rock on the pedal] could cause the driver to quickly pull their foot from the brake to ease the pain and thus negatively affect braking response.”
Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act doesn’t ban barefoot driving. In fact, it doesn’t address footwear – or lack of it – at all.
“It’s legal in Ontario but it’s not recommended,” said Sean Shapiro, a road safety consultant and former Toronto traffic cop.
“It’s not only because you’re controlling the car. If you were in a serious collision, you would have to walk through a debris field of broken car parts, glass and gasoline on the ground.”
Although each province has its own traffic rules, we couldn’t find any that ban barefoot driving in a car or motorcycle. We couldn’t find any U.S. states that ban it either.
But several police officers we spoke to said that you could potentially be charged with careless driving if your footwear – or lack of it – causes you to drive erratically or get into a crash.
Shapiro often hears from drivers who think barefoot driving is illegal and he’s not sure where the idea came from.
“It’s a myth,” he said. “I grew up thinking it was illegal.”
Shaky footing?
There are other risks with barefoot driving. For instance, your feet could slip off the pedals.
But, while you should be wearing something on your feet, not all shoes are sensible for driving, ILR’s Law said.
“We recommend driving in thin-soled shoes [such as sneakers] and taking whatever footwear the driver wants to wear at their destination with them,” Law said in an e-mail.
Flip flops, sandals and any other open-toed shoes are a bad idea because the sole can jam under the pedals, he said.
You also want shoes that can’t potentially fall off while you’re driving and it’s smart to avoid dress shoes with heels, he said.
“We had one of our corporate students run right through our emergency braking exercise due to her high-heeled shoes getting caught up in the floor mat,” he said. “It’s not worth the risk.”
Also, avoid any thick-soled shoes or boots – including work boots and winter boots – because you may not be able to feel the pedals.
For instance, if you’re wearing a heavy winter boot with a wide sole, you could accidentally press down on both the gas and the brake at the same time.
“Driving is all about communication – the driver is telling their vehicle exactly what they want it to do,” Law said. “Not being able to access the pedals properly and quickly will cause a miscommunication between driver and vehicle, usually to a not-so-nice result.”
Have a driving question? Send it to globedrive@globeandmail.com and put ‘Driving Concerns’ in your subject line. Emails without the correct subject line may not be answered. Canada’s a big place, so let us know where you are so we can find the answer for your city and province.