Is Driving Barefoot Illegal in Alaska?
It’s legal to drive barefoot in Alaska, but you could face additional fines if you’re in an accident without adequate footwear.
Written by Ethan Moser
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Despite what you might have heard through the rumor mill, it is legal to drive barefoot in Alaska. That said, you should be aware of the potential safety risks posed by driving barefoot instead of with proper footwear.
Do you prefer the experience of driving barefoot? If so, you’ve likely come across plenty of people who tell you that the practice is either dangerous or altogether illegal. Well, they’re wrong! And
car insurance
shopping app Jerry
is here to prove it.Despite being a persistent myth, driving barefoot in all 50 US States and in the District of Columbia is legal. That said, driving barefoot isn’t always recommended. In some states, including Alaska, driving with proper footwear is recommended, and, in the case of an accident, you could incur additional penalties if you’re driving barefoot.
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Ready to get the straight facts on barefoot driving in Alaska? Let’s get started.
Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Alaska?
No! It is perfectly legal to drive barefoot in Alaska.
The myth that it is illegal to drive barefoot is, well, just that—a myth. In the summer of 1994, a driver named Jason Heimbaugh busted the myth wide open. He wrote letters to DMV offices in every US state (and
Washington D.C.
) asking if driving barefoot was legal in their jurisdiction. Heimbaugh’s answers were all the same: Yes.There you have it! There are absolutely no laws forbidding barefoot driving in Alaska. The only stipulation regarding footwear can be found in the state’s Motorcycle Operating Manual, which states that motorcycle drivers’ “boots or shoes should be high enough to cover [their] ankles and sturdy enough to give them support.”
Is it safe to drive barefoot?
Although barefoot driving isn’t illegal anywhere in the US, most states recommend that drivers wear proper footwear because driving barefoot can sometimes be unsafe.
The safety issue with driving barefoot results from the driver having a decreased amount of control over their vehicle. This happens because:
- Driving barefoot reduces your braking force.
- Bare feet typically have less traction than shoes, especially when wet.
- If you’re in an accident, the chances of serious injury to your feet are higher.
However, driving barefoot can prove safer than driving in difficult footwear like flip-flops and high heels. In a state as notoriously cold and snowy as Alaska, though, you probably won’t be sporting flip-flops behind the wheel too often.
Key Takeaway A closed-toe shoe with good traction is the safest way to prep your feet for the pedal. But you won’t break any laws by going barefoot, and it may actually be safer than driving in a clumsy shoe like a flip-flop.
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How to save money on car insurance in Alaska
No matter what kind of shoes you choose to wear (or not wear), you can save money on your Alaska
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