Another day - another stupid poll: Bare feet & driving

[minzy]

It’s been awhile, but I definitely have driven barefoot, though I also don’t love the feel of a pedal without a shoe. Sometimes I’m in a rush and don’t want to tie up my running shoes at home and do the whole thing where I tuck the laces because I’m tight on time; that’s probably been the most recent example. After a night in heels too. Sometimes on a long drive, my foot in, say, a running shoe at that certain angle will get a little numb towards the heel, so I will take the right one off.

[sent]

No, I've had times where I contemplated it and it feels weird so I don't start the car.

[joy]

Sure - many times. I slip off flip flops to drive all summer.

I’m shocked that people find it weird. Maybe I’m weird.

[abs]

No. I have but I don’t like the way the pedal feels in my foot.

I am a yes for driving in flip flops though. I do that like 80% of the time? I hate driving in sandals/heels and kept flip flops in my car for back up purposes.

[wanderingback]

Are socks considered bare feet?

I don’t have a car but occasionally get a rental car for longer drives and yes I’ll slip off my shoes and drive in socks.

I guess I never realized that people never ever did this on road trips!

[DarcyLongfellow]

I had no idea so many people won't drive barefoot.

I drive barefoot probably 90% of the time. I live in Florida, so I wear flip flops almost all the time. Driving in flip-flops seems incredibly dangerous to me -- I've had the pedal get caught between my foot and the shoe. I also won't drive in heels because the angle of my foot feels all wrong.

I read the linked article, and I'm not really convinced that driving in barefeet is dangerous. Yes, your foot could slip off the pedal, but that could happen in a dress shoe as well. I can see the argument about having to apply more pressure, but then you just...apply more pressure. Also, I don't know who is trying to push pedals with their toes?? I use the balls of my feet.

[basilosaurus]

I'd far rather drive barefoot or with flip flops than in heels.

Probably statistically it's not safe, but I and everyone I know drive in flip flops and have all our driving lives. I think the last time I wore actual shoes was in February because I was on holiday when it snowed.

I've spent more than half my life in the tropics and subtropics in beach towns. Barefoot happens. Flip flops are just a 2nd sole.

[goldengirlz]

It never even occurred to me to do this. Or that anyone would do it.

… And I don’t mean that in a judgy way. I was truly ignorant that this was a thing.

ETA: The funny thing is, I always felt like this board leans way more germaphobe than I do, but there’s something that gives me the ick-factor about having my bare feet on my pedals. Like the same pedals where I rest my muddy hiking boots or the sneakers I wore on filthy city streets? No thanks. I guess we all have our thing!

[basilosaurus]

This thread made me look around my breakfast cafe that's full. One person has shoes with a back strap. And it's not the chef. Almost no one walks except in a few locations (it's not safe) so at least half of them drove a car or motorbike (1 or 2 per table).

Not that I'd look to anyone here for safe driving tips!

Pp said it wouldn't occur that people do this. The opposite would be true here, that anyone would even question it.

[babsbunny]

I voted yes because I think I did once when something happened to my shoes.

I also think flip flops are dangerous with driving and generally never wear them unless on a very rare beach vacation with a rental car.

I have driven in heels a few (like 20) times and it is weird but feels safe.

[kate1482]

I randomly drove without shoes on in high school (probably wearing flip flops or heels) Now at 41 I still take off my right shoe to drive. I’ve tried driving with both shoes on and it feels weird like I’m not pressing the pedal. I can’t break the habit.

[yellow23]

Add me to the group that thought this was illegal. I really thought we were told that in drivers ed, but that was many years ago. I’ve never tried it, but I feel like I wouldn’t be able to push the pedal as well, especially if I need to slam on my brakes for some reason.

I feel like my car pedals would be kind of disgusting to put my bare feet on. That is one thing I have absolutely never cleaned so I imagine them having filth from every public bathroom/store/sidewalk on them. I’m not usually freaked out by dirt, my floors don’t get mopped nearly as often as they should, I go to my garage and driveway barefoot all the time, and I occasionally wear shoes through my house, but something about the car pedals feels dirtier to me.

[mrsukyankee]

Only once when I was in my 20s and had just had surgery on one of my feet, so didn't want to put on a shoe and figured I'd just go full out barefooted. It made me uncomfortable.

My mom drove in sandals that didn't have a back strap, it got caught in one of the pedals and she had an accident, so I learned to never drive in flipflops or sandals.

[taratru]

I've done it, but I don't like it.

[lessel]

I do it all the damn time. I probably prefer it. Especially in summer when wearing flip flops. But I regularly slip off work shoes or sneakers to drive. Especially if I'm driving long distances, I'll take off my shoes and stash them out of the way. I feel like driving barefoot is more comfortable and I even feel the pedal better and have more control.

I'm also barefoot most of the time in general if I'm at home. I've always been that way, even as a kid... played outside barefoot, etc. I thought it was a #regional thing but I think it's a me being weird thing.

[ECB]

May 4, 2023 16:47:42 GMT -5 AJL said:

This seems super dangerous. I've done it once or twice but mostly to move the car into the garage, out of the garage, etc. I've never actually driven anywhere without shoes on.

I really want to know what seems "super dangerous" about it.  I read the article and I can understand the reasons NOT to - but even then, "super dangerous"?

Like others, I feel flip flops are more dangerous.  At least depending on the flip flop.  In some, my feet slide in the shoe, and a couple times, I've felt the shoe shift to the right or left but not my foot as I switch from the accelerator to brake or vice versa.  Or even my foot will slide down the shoe, almost out of it.  THAT makes me nervous!  So I usually take my right flop off to drive.  

I feel much more in control in bare feet than in flip flops.  

[ECB]

Oh, and yes, I remember being told it was illegal too! Something about how you might step on something sharp while driving, which honestly never made sense to me. I don't tend to keep tacks and pins on the floor of my car.  

[kadams767]

May 4, 2023 21:36:00 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

It never even occurred to me to do this. Or that anyone would do it.

… And I don’t mean that in a judgy way. I was truly ignorant that this was a thing.

ETA: The funny thing is, I always felt like this board leans way more germaphobe than I do, but there’s something that gives me the ick-factor about having my bare feet on my pedals. Like the same pedals where I rest my muddy hiking boots or the sneakers I wore on filthy city streets? No thanks. I guess we all have our thing!

I am amazed the thread made it to your post before someone brought up the cleanliness factor.  How often are people cleaning their cars/pedals and mats to feel OK driving barefoot?!  

I’d love to see the overlap from people in that ML poll last week who said their cars are filthy and those who also drive barefoot.   🤣

[shauni27]

I have but I dislike it; mostly because the dirt and grime and stuff on my floor touches my bare foot and I hate that feeling.

My H loves to drive barefoot.

When we were taught to drive stick shift, we were told to do it barefoot so we could really feel the sticky points so we could feel when to shift.

[breezy8407]

I was told it was illegal, too. I've moved a car in the driveway barefoot a couple times, but I don't like how it feels.

I don't mind driving in flip flops or sandals, but not for long distances. My feet get more tired or something?

[marcyiam]

Frequently. I essentially take off any shoe that isn't tied or strapped to my foot. Feels safer to me, especially the flip flops.

And I feel like the opposite of everyone here. My drivers ed teacher is the one who first recommended it.

[wawa]

I drive barefoot if the shoes I've got on are bothering my feet. (like, post run if my shoes are soaked, or the rare moments of high heels) But I don't like it because it feels weird. I also have always thought it was not allowed, but I'm not getting caught unless I get pulled over so I just have a dim feeling of guilt and do it anyway.

[lessel]

I think that if you never or only super-duper rarely drive with bare feet it can definitely feel dangerous, because it's such a different feeling and, I think the article is correct on this, it changes how you feel and apply pressure to the pedals. But if you've been doing it for 2+ decades it becomes way more of a natural feeling.

The driving with wet feet thing made me roll my eyes in the article though. Wet shoes are slippery too.

[Pilsy]

May 4, 2023 19:42:14 GMT -5 abs said:

No. I have but I don’t like the way the pedal feels in my foot.

Same here. I've slipped off my shoe when I had a blister, but I didn't like it and would never choose to do it again! 

[sonrisa]

I’m actually a special snow flake. Lol. I don’t but have - when my right sandal broke while out and I had no choice but to drive back barefoot. It felt really weird and o was glad I was close to home. (I don’t wear flip flop style sandals so that isn’t an issue)

[mrshandy]

I said yes, but it would be incredibly rare. Like my H needs me to move one of our cars because he is running very late and needs the other car. Otherwise I never would. It would just be to move the car quickly onto the street.

[StrawberryBlondie]

I feel like this is something I probably did when I was wearing heels because I had to go to court or something, but not something I generally do.

[shauni27]

May 5, 2023 9:14:33 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

I feel like this is something I probably did when I was wearing heels because I had to go to court or something, but not something I generally do.

honestly, probably when I wear heels is the only time I can think of that I have driven without shoes, lol.

[definitelyO]

Another member of my family and I have had this discussion and I actually had to look it up as I told him that he should not drive barefoot - he asked "is it illegal" - ugh - so I saw it was allowed, but I still advise against it - less control IMO.

[rubytue]

May 4, 2023 16:38:10 GMT -5 @villainv said:

I feel like my parents once told me it was illegal to drive barefoot when I was a kid, and I must have believed it, because I never tried it. I have definitely driven in sandals and flip flops though.

I had a friend in college who talked about how he liked to drive barefoot and why is it illegal?! I never fact checked him on it. 

I have when the choice is flip flops or barefoot. And I drive in slippers frequently, when I’m going to change into heels