Is it illegal to drive barefoot in North Carolina? NC Highway Patrol explains the law
It’s common for some drivers to ditch their shoes when going from one place to another, especially in the hot and humid summers.
Whether you just got back from a day at the pool or have on sandals, many may prefer driving barefoot instead.
There is a longstanding myth that drivers are required to wear shoes while behind the wheel. Despite that belief, that’s not actually the case.
“While driving without shoes may pose some issues, it is not based on any laws found on the books in North Carolina,” Carl L. Britt Jr. Law Firm stated in a blog post about driving myths in the state.
“Wearing the wrong types of shoes can be just as bad, if not worse, than driving barefoot. The wrong shoes can lead to your foot slipping off the gas or brake or applying the wrong pedal, all of which can lead to an accident.”
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North Carolina has several driving laws in addition to its speed limits and seat belt rules, but requiring you to wear shoes, which officials say would be difficult to even identify from outside of a vehicle, is not one of them.
“Is it illegal to drive your vehicle without gloves on your hands? So we certainly don’t require anyone to cover their hands while driving a vehicle, so we don’t require anyone to cover their feet while driving a vehicle,” North Carolina State Highway Patrol Sgt. Marcus Bethea told The Charlotte Observer.
“As long as you’re driving safely, you’re driving legally, and you’re driving to where you are conscious of everyone else around you, that’s what we’re worried about.”
This story was originally published August 17, 2023 at 11:01 AM with the headline "Is it illegal to drive barefoot in North Carolina? NC Highway Patrol explains the law."
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