How to properly merge while driving
It may seem rude to fusion late, but it’s actually the right move. Here’s how zipper merging works and why it helps in traffic flow:
The summer may be fading, but it’s warm enough to kick your shoes and run through the grass in your backyard or take a barefoot walk along the beach.
But say you need to do some simple errands. Do you have to put your shoes back in order to undo them? Is it legal to drive barefoot?
Whether or not it’s wise to do so is another question.
“Police and safety experts may say that wearing the right footwear is a good fit for pedals. Footwear cannot slip off the pedal,” said Mike Morse, an attorney specializing in personal injury litigation.
Now he added, “If there were only flip-flops that were slipping off my feet, I would rather go barefoot.”
But that could also be a problem.
“If you hit one of my clients… if you told me, “I was driving barefoot, so my feet slipped down the brakes, the gas pedal and hit your client. It’s negligence.”
Is it legal?
Barefoot driving is legal in all 50 states, with one small exception being Alabama, where you need footwear on a motorcycle.
This was confirmed in 1994 when a man named Jason Heimbaugh wrote a letter to all state DMVs to confirm that the practice was in fact legal.
But is it safe?
The question of whether driving barefoot is safe or not is not too dry.
Driving barefoot may be a safer option than driving with heeled shoes, as it reduces the driver’s pedaling sensation. Thin flip-flops can be a worse alternative as they can bend under the pedals, or slide or twist your feet while driving.
That being said, driving barefoot is also dangerous.
Driving barefoot can reduce pedal grip and control, and can lead to foot injuries if you suddenly stop or have to have an accident, according to Speeding Ticket KC, a traffic law firm in Kansas City, Missouri.
And while driving barefoot is not illegal, the law firm points out that if you get involved in an accident or receive a quote, it can still play a role. For example, an officer or insurance adjuster could argue that a lack of footwear contributed to reckless or careless driving, and the issue could even be nurtured during court or insurance review.
Conclusion: Drive barefoot at your own risk.
