Driving barefoot in Illinois is not illegal. No federal or state law prohibits driving without shoes.
Points to Consider:
- Safety Concerns: Several states discourage barefoot driving due to safety concerns. Some argue that driving barefoot can be safer than driving with certain types of shoes, like flip-flops, which can slip off or get caught under pedals.
- Illinois Law: Illinois has no statute prohibiting barefoot driving.
- Liability: Drivers can face liability if being barefoot contributes to an accident or impairs their ability to operate the vehicle safely.
- Negligence: Although legal, driving barefoot in Illinois can be used as evidence of negligence in a personal injury case. If a driver’s lack of shoes contributed to an accident, they could be held liable for damages.
- Insurance: Insurance companies generally do not deny claims solely because a driver was barefoot. However, they may use it as a factor to reduce liability payouts if it contributed to the accident.
- Real-life cases:
- Chicago: A barefoot driver rear-ended another car, claiming their foot slipped off the brake. The court found the driver negligent.
- Springfield: A barefoot driver hit a pedestrian. The court ruled that the driver’s inability to stop in time was linked to their footwear choice.
- Other Vehicles: Some vehicles, like motorcycles, may have specific laws regulating barefoot driving.
- Shoes under the seat: Shoes that have been taken off and left under the seat could end up under the pedals, causing them to get stuck and not work properly.
- Best Practice: Wearing proper footwear while driving ensures greater safety
SOURCES:
- https://1440wrok.com/is-driving-barefoot-legal-in-illinois/
- https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/driving-without-shoes
- https://b100quadcities.com/barefoot-driving-illegal-chicago-illinois/
- https://www.superlawyers.com/resources/criminal-defense/driving-barefoot-is-it-legal/