Is Driving Barefoot Illegal in Virginia?
It’s legal to drive barefoot in Virginia, but driving without adequate footwear can put you at risk in case of an accident.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
While it’s a common misconception that driving without shoes is illegal, driving barefoot is legal in
Virginia
. However, driving without proper footwear is a safety risk.If you like to drive barefoot, chances are that you’ve been scolded for it before: “Put your shoes on or you’ll get pulled over!” While barefoot driving may not be the most responsible choice, you aren’t doing anything illegal simply by taking your shoes off.
It’s legal to drive with your shoes off in all 50 states, but the rules around barefoot driving can get murky. Some states—including Virginia—officially encourage drivers to wear footwear behind the wheel, and you could even face heavier fines if you’re pulled over barefoot.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversIs it illegal to drive barefoot in Virginia?
No! Driving barefoot is legal in Virginia—technically.
Virginia takes a stricter stance on barefoot drivers than most states. Driving barefoot is officially discouraged in the Old Dominion state, and drivers are urged to wear “safe footwear” when operating a vehicle. While Virginia makes it clear that it doesn’t approve of barefoot drivers, driving without shoes is still not illegal.
That said, driving barefoot can still earn you a ticket in Virginia. If you’re pulled over and the police officer believes your lack of shoes contributed to any unsafe driving, the officer can write you a ticket. However, since driving barefoot itself isn’t against the law, the ticket will most likely be for something like reckless driving or
distracted driving
instead.So there you have it. If you want to drive barefoot in Virginia, you can do so legally. But choosing to operate a vehicle without your shoes puts you at risk for extra tickets and higher fines if you’re pulled over.
Is it safe to drive barefoot?
Just because it’s legal to drive without shoes, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea—and the state of Virginia would probably agree. Barefoot driving can contribute to reduced control over your vehicle because:
- You’ll need to press down harder on the gas or brake if you drive without shoes
- Bare feet have less traction than shoes, so they might slip off the pedals while you drive
- Bare feet can be distracting—minor accidents like stubbing your toe can take your attention off the road
- You are more likely to seriously injure your feet if you get into an accident while barefoot
That said, wearing certain shoes like flip-flops or high heels can actually be more dangerous than driving with bare feet. These types of footwear can accidentally slip off or even get stuck under your pedals while you’re driving. If you’re wearing flip-flops or high heels in Virginia, it’s a good idea to keep a spare pair of sneakers in your car so you can change your shoes before you drive.
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