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Everyone has their own best way to drive, right?
Though true, we’re more than willing to bet that most drivers get behind the wheel with two shoes on their feet. However, we’d be naive to think that this is the only way that people drive. Yes, there’s certain to be people out there that drive in just their socks or even barefoot for one reason or the other. While this is certainly a more unusual way of pushing the accelerator and brake pedals, to each their own. This lighthearted post will look at the pros and cons of driving in your shoes, bare feet, and socks. Read on for more.
Driving Barefoot
Despite what you may think, driving barefoot is actually legal in every state in the United States. Despite its legality, barefoot driving typically isn’t something that’s advised. We’ll start with the cons of barefoot driving:
• Slippage: Your feet are more likely to slip off the pedals, which makes it more likely that you’re a threat to other drivers on the road. Hence, barefoot driving may not be the safest way to drive. Slippage can increase in wet conditions.
• No shirt, no shoes, no service: If you are driving barefoot to a commercial entity, you best have a pair of shoes on you. That’s because you’re unlikely to be permitted access to any business if they follow the “no shirt, no shoes, no service” rule.
We can’t really come up with any pros to barefoot driving other than it may be more comfortable than wearing socks or shoes, and it can prevent your feet from sweating in hot temperatures.
Driving in Socks
Because it’s legal to drive barefoot, it’s also legal to drive with just your socks on. Again, it’s probably not recommended, but we’d imagine that it’s a step up from driving barefoot when it comes to keeping traction on the pedals. It may also be more comfortable than just plain barefoot driving.
The cons, however, are similar to barefoot driving in that you’re not going to be granted access to any business that goes by the “no shirt, no shoes, no service” rule. Plus, you’re likely to get your socks dirty and/or wet and damp depending on the weather conditions. Who wants to walk around in nothing but wet socks for the rest of the day?
Driving in Shoes
You don’t need to go through defensive driving in Texas to know that driving with shoes on your feet is considered the safest way to operate a motor vehicle. Not only will you not need to worry about being denied access to any business that you’re visiting, but the shoes provide a nice buffer between your feet and whatever you’re walking on. So, if it’s raining or snowing outside, you don’t have to worry about damp socks or damp bare feet as you’re walking from your home to your vehicle or vice versa. As we said, you probably don’t need to take a driving safety course to realize that driving with shoes on is the best way to go. However, there may be some cons:
• Discomfort: Maybe your feet sweat easily, or you don’t have any pairs of really comfortable shoes? It can be enticing to kick them aside and go barefoot or with socks.
• Beware of flip flops: We don’t consider flip flops shoes. And flip flops may pose a threat when driving, as they can slide off the feet easily and potentially wedge themselves underneath the pedals – thus becoming a safety hazard.
You know your own feet and driving skills better than anyone else. Make sure you choose wisely, and what is most safe for your fellow drivers out on the road.
