Every driver in the state of California is responsible for ensuring that they are not endangering other motorists on the road. There are several laws that govern what you may and cannot do. It is, for example, unlawful to drive when inebriated, and there are limitations on how you may use your phone while driving.
But what about putting on a pair of shoes? Is it illegal to drive in California without wearing shoes? No, however if you are in a vehicle accident, it might be used against you. Continue reading to discover more, and then call 909-982-0707 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney at Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas.
Barefoot driving regulations
In California, there are no regulations prohibiting barefoot driving. In reality, there is not a single state in the US where driving without shoes is legally prohibited. However, if a person drives barefoot in California, they may be breaking several laws. It may be construed as reckless or careless in some situations, resulting in your being judged at-fault or partially at-fault for any injuries you receive in an accident.
Some shoes may increase your chances of being involved in a car accident
Several studies have shown that the sort of shoes a person wears has an impact on their ability to drive safely. For example, one research in England discovered that drivers who wore flip flops or high heels are more likely to be involved in an accident. According to the report, these sorts of shoes are responsible for roughly 1.5 million injuries each year.
The shoes becoming trapped beneath or between pedals, as well as restricting the force with which a person may hit the brakes, were discovered to be problematic with flip flops. As a consequence, the braking time was lowered by around .13 seconds. High heels were discovered to limit drivers’ range of motion, reduce braking time, and hinder drivers from applying enough force to the brake pedal. Nearly 40% of the drivers polled acknowledged to driving while wearing inappropriate footwear.
If you do not wear safe shoes, you might be held liable for an accident
In California, carelessness is the leading cause of automobile accidents, thus driving barefoot might be deemed irresponsible. Consider the following scenario: As you drive away from the beach, a driver who is not wearing shoes collides with your vehicle. If it is determined that the driver’s foot was wet and slipped off the brake pedal, the fact that they were barefoot may have contributed to the accident.
For a free legal consultation, call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you have been in an automobile accident in which someone else was at least partially at blame.
