Is it illegal to ...

[Scott328i]

drive without shoes on?

Reason I ask is that I stepped in Dog st last night (twice - one each foot) and contemplated taking my shoes off. In the end I didnt as I got it off with the assistance of a huge puddle.

Just thought I would put it out to you ...

Random

Scott

[HundredthIdiot]

No.

[10 Pence Short]

As long as you're in control, absolutely no reason why you need to wear shoes.

[Xaero]

No, but it should be illegal to drive with flip flops on. But that's another matter...

[Scott328i]

Ahhh excellent

Does anyone drive without shoes on

I have once or twice and prefer the pedal control

Just me?

[Ozone]

Yes.

[Strangely Brown]

Maybe not illegal... but it is pretty stupid.

If you're not used to bare feet then if you have to brake hard for any reason there is a pretty good chance that you won't be braking as hard you might like to be.

[MK4 Slowride]

I used to do my driving lessons in my bare feet. Fecking Vauxhall Corsa's pedals too close together for my wide feet.

[HundredthIdiot]

Scott328i said:

Does anyone drive without shoes on

Yes.

Scott328i said:

I have once or twice and prefer the pedal control. Just me?

No.

Evaporative foot cooling is also more efficient in this mode.

[Scott328i]

Strangely Brown said:

Maybe not illegal... but it is pretty stupid.

If you're not used to bare feet then if you have to brake hard for any reason there is a pretty good chance that you won't be braking as hard you might like to be.

And the sole of your shoe exerts more force because of an extra 5mm of rubber/leather?

I demand to see the physics behind this.

[anonymous-user]

I occasionally drive barefoot in the summer, no problemo.

Flip-flops, on the other hand, are an entirely different matter. I've only tried to drive in them once and nearly crashed twice just getting off the driveway. Don't do that

[Nolar Dog]

If I know I'm not going to be getting out of the car for a while I almost always drive barefoot.

Just feels better.

[Greeny]

Strangely Brown said:

Maybe not illegal... but it is pretty stupid.

If you're not used to bare feet then if you have to brake hard for any reason there is a pretty good chance that you won't be braking as hard you might like to be.

Driving with the smell of dog shat in the car could be pretty distracting though, so it could be the lesser of two evils

[The Tea Boy]

im in agreement here i nearly always drive (esp long drives) in bare feet, infact having just got back from a week in Sicily i dove 1600miles in bare feet!!! and again as said before i have wide feet and they are size 12 so have problems not hitting all the pedals at the same time

Matt

[Greeny]

Nolar Dog said:

If I know I'm not going to be getting out of the car for a while I almost always drive naked.

Just feels better.

[Mondeohdear]

Scott328i said:

Strangely Brown said:

Maybe not illegal... but it is pretty stupid.

If you're not used to bare feet then if you have to brake hard for any reason there is a pretty good chance that you won't be braking as hard you might like to be.

And the sole of your shoe exerts more force because of an extra 5mm of rubber/leather?

I demand to see the physics behind this.

not so much physics as physiology. If you are exerting the force on your foot from the whole sole of your shoe then your perception of the amount of pressure you are exerting will be different than if the pressure is concentrated on the are covering a brake pedal. Therefore you will believe you are braking harder than you are.

[Scott328i]

Greeny said:

Strangely Brown said:

Maybe not illegal... but it is pretty stupid.

If you're not used to bare feet then if you have to brake hard for any reason there is a pretty good chance that you won't be braking as hard you might like to be.

Driving with the smell of dog shat in the car could be pretty distracting though, so it could be the lesser of two evils

To be fair I was rather disgruntled at the fact that I had to open both front and rear quaters to relieve myself of the smell.

Coupled with the fact it was 5oC on the way home I was not entirely amused.

I shall be walking a different way to the car tonight...

[HundredthIdiot]

Mondeohdear said:

not so much physics as physiology. If you are exerting the force on your foot from the whole sole of your shoe then your perception of the amount of pressure you are exerting will be different than if the pressure is concentrated on the are covering a brake pedal. Therefore you will believe you are braking harder than you are.

This effect is extremely important when driving with your eyes closed.

[Scott328i]

Mondeohdear said:

Scott328i said:

Strangely Brown said:

Maybe not illegal... but it is pretty stupid.

If you're not used to bare feet then if you have to brake hard for any reason there is a pretty good chance that you won't be braking as hard you might like to be.

And the sole of your shoe exerts more force because of an extra 5mm of rubber/leather?

I demand to see the physics behind this.

not so much physics as physiology. If you are exerting the force on your foot from the whole sole of your shoe then your perception of the amount of pressure you are exerting will be different than if the pressure is concentrated on the are covering a brake pedal. Therefore you will believe you are braking harder than you are.

To be fair, on an internet forum full of petrol heads, I would expect that if you were braking and catching the car in front you would exert a little more force on the peddle.

If you can't work that one out maybe some people should be confined to padded rooms.

[Strangely Brown]

Mondeohdear said:

Scott328i said:

Strangely Brown said:

Maybe not illegal... but it is pretty stupid.

If you're not used to bare feet then if you have to brake hard for any reason there is a pretty good chance that you won't be braking as hard you might like to be.

And the sole of your shoe exerts more force because of an extra 5mm of rubber/leather?

I demand to see the physics behind this.

not so much physics as physiology. If you are exerting the force on your foot from the whole sole of your shoe then your perception of the amount of pressure you are exerting will be different than if the pressure is concentrated on the are covering a brake pedal. Therefore you will believe you are braking harder than you are.

Add to that the possibility of any unexpected pain sensation caused by grit or imperfections of the pedal and you could subconsciously recoil rather than press harder.

If you're used to driving or walking in bare feet then fine. Otherwise you might create more problems than it solves.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Tuesday 28th October 15:59