Road rule warning sparks fierce debate

A warning about a common driving practice has sparked a surprised backlash on social media.

Transport for NSW took to Facebook to answer the question about whether it was legal to drive while barefoot.

“There’s no road rule on feet, but our rules do say that drivers must have proper control of their vehicle ... so, if driving barefoot impacts your ability to drive safely, you can technically be fined,” Transport said in its post.

“It’s always safer to have comfy, enclosed shoes on to protect your feet in the event of crash - wait till (sic) you’re not driving to free the dogs!”

The same applies around the country, with no state or territory having specific rules about driver footwear, but if you’re barefoot in a situation where a pedal slips, leading to an accident or a dangerous driving penalty, it could be considered a factor.

Keep that in mind if you’re thinking of wearing thongs or socks for a trip as well, given they tend to have less of a grip factor than either shoes or bare feet.

However, Transport for NSW’s warning about safety prompted a slew of respondents who claimed driving barefoot was more comfortable, and provided more control, for them.

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“I fail to see how bare feet could possibly impede your pedal control,” one respondent said.

Others agreed that while barefoot driving worked well, footwear such as thongs, heels, or anything with platforms were unsafe.

Multiple people even claimed they had passed their driver’s test while unshod.

It’s a similar legal situation to that other great question of feet and car travel - can you pop your dogs up on the dash?

Again, while not technically illegal, police have discretionary powers to fine you if they deem it a potential danger to driving, including by impeding the driver’s view of the windscreen, or for improper seatbelt use,

It’s also extremely dangerous from a safety perspective, with both passenger airbags and head-on impact potentially causing very serious to fatal injuries if your legs are propped up.

If you need to stretch your legs, or feel the earth between your toes, it’s best to pull over safely at a carpark or a highway rest stop and do so with the motor off.