Is Driving Barefoot Illegal in Oregon?
It’s completely legal to drive barefoot in Oregon. However, if doing so prevents you from driving safely, you can get cited with distracted driving.
Written by Shannon Fitzgerald
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
It’s completely legal to drive barefoot in
Oregon
. However, if doing so prevents you from driving safely, law enforcement may cite you for distracted driving
. 
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Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Oregon?
Nope—driving barefoot in Oregon is perfectly legal. In fact, it always has been.
This was proven in 1994 by a man named Jason Heimbaugh. Perplexed by the widespread rumor that barefoot driving was illegal, he sent a letter to DMVs in every state, questioning whether the jurisdiction allowed drivers to legally drive without shoes. Every DMV answered yes.
Today, it is still legal to drive barefoot in every state. Oregon is no exception. However, if driving barefoot leads to poor driving—that’s another story. A law enforcement officer can cite your barefoot driving as distracted driving.
Is it safe to drive barefoot?
It may be legal to drive barefoot through the nation, but it is also considered unsafe by every state. This is because drivers who don’t wear shoes have less control of their vehicles.
Here’s why driving barefoot is a bad idea:
- You have less traction to manipulate the brake and gas pedals
- You have reduced braking power
- The odd sensation may be a distraction
- Your feet are at much greater risk of injury in an accident
That said, there may be some scenarios where driving barefoot could be a better option. When wearing shoes that could slip or snag on the pedals—like flip-flops or high heels—it’s actually safer to take them off to drive.
The bottom line: while it may be legal to drive barefoot in Oregon, it’s much safer to drive with closed-toed shoes that provide good traction. If you’re wearing shoes like high heels or flip-flops, you may be better off going barefoot instead.
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