Can You Legally Drive Barefoot in Washington? What Does the Law Say?

We've discussed this a time or two. Can you drive barefoot in Washington?

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Here's the deal. I put the question to AI. Can you legally drive barefoot in Washington? And what I received was:

Yes, it is legal to drive barefoot in Washington. There are no specific laws in Washington state that prohibit driving without shoes.

It's perfectly legal to drive without shoes in ALL 50 states.

There are NO federal or state laws that prohibit driving without shoes. However, it's important to note that while there are NO specific laws about driving barefoot in the state of Washington, it's not recommended that you do so. My father always stressed to me that it was important to wear regular shoes while driving. I think it was my dad who told me it was, "illegal to drive barefoot." I was also told that flip flops are not considered acceptable shoes for driving. Flash news! They're ok. Although, traditional shoes are preferred.

However, driving without shoes can be a safety risk.

Driving barefoot could make it easier for you to lose control. You may have to press harder on the gas and brake pedals. Your feet may slip off the pedals easier than hard-soled shoes. There's also the possibility that you could stub a toe. According to the NHTSA, this could lead to a distracted driving charge. Worse, driving without shoes could actually be the cause of losing control and result in an accident.

Be safe. Wear shoes when driving.