Is Driving Barefoot Illegal in Iowa?
Driving barefoot in Iowa is legal and there are no extra penalties if you’re in an accident without shoes.
Written by Tiffany Leung
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
There are no laws stating that barefoot driving in
Iowa
is illegal. However, driving without footwear isn’t recommended as it can be dangerous—even if you won’t be penalized for it. The more you’re not supposed to do something, the more alluring it is, like driving barefoot! However, is driving without shoes actually illegal, like everyone claims?
Jerry
, the car insurance
super app, is here to solve the mystery! Spoiler—barefoot driving has always been legal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. However, most states, including Iowa
, consider barefoot driving to be unsafe. Wearing proper shoes is recommended while driving so that you can be safer. In certain states, you could even face penalties if you get into an accident while driving barefoot. Find out more about driving shoeless below!
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Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Iowa?
No, barefoot driving has never been illegal in Iowa!
Jason Heimbaugh, our hero who busted this urban myth, spent his 1994 summer writing to every state DMV (and Washington D.C.)—to ask whether barefoot driving was legal in every jurisdiction. To our surprise, each answer he received over the summer confirmed that barefoot driving is, indeed, legal.
While it is legal to drive barefoot in Iowa, it may not be the best idea to strip off those shoes to drive. There aren’t any rules about barefoot driving, but it can still be dangerous.
Is it safe to drive barefoot?
We know it’s legal to drive barefoot everywhere in the US, but is it a good idea? Most states advise against it since barefoot driving can actually be unsafe.
You end up losing a lot of your control over your vehicle when you choose to drive without shoes:
- Not wearing shoes leads to a lower braking force
- Barefoot driving gives you less traction, especially if your feet are wet
- Barefoot driving can become a distraction
- You have a greater chance of getting serious foot injuries
However, if you have to choose between barefoot driving and driving in footwear like flip-flops or high heels, choose to be shoeless. You no longer have to feel guilty for kicking off those flip-flops since you’d be driving home more safely.
The bottom line: the safest way to drive is to wear closed-toe shoes with good traction. You aren’t breaking any laws even if you choose to drive barefoot. In fact, it can sometimes be safer compared to driving with less protective footwear like flip-flops.
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How to save money on car insurance in Iowa
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