Is Driving Barefoot Illegal in Indiana?
It isn’t illegal to drive barefoot in Indiana. but you could be cited for failure to exercise due care in the case of an accident.
Written by Tiffany Leung
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
There are no laws stating that barefoot driving in
Indiana
is illegal. However, driving without any footwear is formally deemed unsafe and you could be ticketed for careless driving if you are involved in an accident while driving barefoot. The urban myth of driving barefoot being illegal has been passed on for a long time—haunting those who love driving without shoes. But the real question is, has anyone ever questioned the validity of this claim?
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Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Indiana?
Driving barefoot has never been illegal in Indiana!
This urban myth was finally busted when Jason Heimbaugh spent the summer of 1994 writing to every state DMV (and Washington D.C.) to ask if barefoot driving was legal in every jurisdiction and each answer he got back over the summer was the same—yes, it is legal.
With that being said, we can confirm that it is legal to drive barefoot in Indiana. However, even though your feet can be free from footwear while driving, it’s not recommended. After all, you can still be charged with careless driving if you’re involved in a collision due to your bare footedness.
Is it safe to drive barefoot?
While it is legal to drive barefoot everywhere in the US, should you? Most states advise against it since barefoot driving is legitimately unsafe.
You lose a lot of your control over the vehicle when you drive without shoes because:
- You have a lower braking force when you’re not wearing shoes
- You have less traction when you’re barefoot compared to shoes, especially if they’re wet
- Driving barefoot could lead todistracted driving
- You are more likely to get serious foot injuries
However, if you are comparing the safety of barefoot driving and driving in certain footwear, including flip-flops and high heels, you’re better off being shoeless. In other words, kick off those sparkly high heels after a night out so you can drive home more safely.
The bottom line: wearing closed-toe shoes with good traction is the safest way to drive. You won’t be breaking the law if you choose to drive barefoot and it is sometimes safer compared to driving with impractical footwear like flip-flops.
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Reviewed on 5/28/2023
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