Yes, it is legal to drive barefoot in Florida. Living in the Sunshine State, it is not uncommon for people to drive home from a day at the beach barefoot.
Many people have heard that it is illegal to drive barefoot. However, Florida does not prohibit it. Whether you are driving a car, truck, or even a motorcycle, you will not receive a traffic ticket for driving barefoot.
While there is no law against driving barefoot, it may not be wise to do so. Driving without shoes can be risky. It can make you more likely to have an accident, and it could impact your claim for damages.
How Driving Barefoot Increases Your Risk of Accidents
Even though driving without shoes is not illegal, it still is not a good idea. Driving barefoot can put you at risk of having an accident and make you more likely to suffer injury in an accident.
Barefoot driving provides less control. Shoes provide stability and traction, helping your feet maintain steady contact with the pedals. This allows you to apply the right amount of pressure to the accelerator and brake. Bare feet, especially when wet, can easily slip off pedals.
Driving barefoot can also make it difficult to press the pedals hard enough when you need to brake quickly. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, driving barefoot is even more problematic.
Barefoot driving increases your risk of injury. If you are involved in an accident, you need protection for your feet. Shoes help prevent or minimize injuries from the force of the collision, broken glass, hot asphalt, and crash debris.
Even if you do not have an accident, your feet can suffer from driving without shoes. Car pedals are not designed for bare skin and can cause minor injuries during long drives or when you routinely drive without shoes.
How Barefoot Driving Affects Your Insurance Claim
Insurance companies are in business to make a profit. They will look for any reason to avoid paying your claim or to pay you as little as possible for your damages. They may try to use barefoot driving against you when determining liability.
If the accident report notes that you were driving without shoes, an insurance adjuster may argue that your actions contributed to the cause of the crash. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, you can be barred from recovering compensation if you are determined to be 51% or more at fault for the accident. If you are less than 51% at fault, you can still recover compensation, but it will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. The more blame the insurance company can shift to you, the less they have to pay you.
Some Shoe Choices Are Better Than Others For Driving
Wearing shoes is a safer and wiser choice when driving. However, certain types of shoes present their own risks. Flip-flops and sandals are popular footwear in Florida, and many people drive in them. Unfortunately, these shoes are not ideal for driving. Studies have shown that drivers wearing flip-flops or sandals take longer to move their foot from the gas pedal to the brake than drivers wearing more secure shoes.
Flip-flops and sandals are not the only bad choices when driving. Driving in high heels, wedges, and platform shoes can also impair your ability to control the pedals safely.
It is much safer to wear closed-toe shoes with good traction when you drive. Even if you are going to the beach and plan to wear flip-flops, or going out on the town and want to wear high heels, you should drive in comfortable, secure shoes and put on the flip-flops or heels once you arrive at your destination.
Contact Rosen Injury Law If You Have Been Injured
If you are injured in a car accident caused by someone else, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. At Rosen Injury Law, our accident lawyers in Fort Lauderdale have a proven record of securing maximum compensation for our clients, and we want to help you obtain the justice and full value of your damages.
Call (954) 787-1500 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your accident claim.