Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Texas?

Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Texas?, well, in this article, we look at the Texas state driving laws, what is legal and what’s not, and what code drivers must adhere to in order not to endanger their life and that of others.

If you have been driving for a while, it may seem like one of the daily routines, but in fact, driving is an one of the essential activities that could become dangerous without safety guidelines and apt awareness.

Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Texas?

The simple answer is NO. It is not against the law to drive barefoot in Texas. In fact, there’s no law that makes it illegal to drive without shoes in Texas and across all other states in the United States. But, the major concern of driving barefoot is safety.

The question that arises then is whether it is safe to drive barefoot or with a shoe on; if the later, which type of shoe?. The main concern with whether or not one should drive with their bare feet is the probability of slips from the pedal while driving.

For this reason, the Virgina DMV recommends that drivers wear sneakers and low heel flat shoes when driving. Such shoes help give a better grip on the pedal and reduces the possibility of slips.

If you’re driving barefoot, it probably indicates you removed your footwear and usually, left on the floor of the driver area near the pedals. In such a situation, the footwear can slip under a pedal or in-between the pedals and that can be dangerous and lead to a crash.

Is it illegal to drive with both feet?

Driving with both feet will depend on the type of vehicle you’re driving and it’s transmission system. While it is obvious that driving a manual transmission vehicle with a shift stick requires both feet at some point, an automatic transmission vehicle is usually driven with one feet.

Some new drivers have a penchant for using both feet to drive even an automatic transmission vehicle. But is it illegal to drive with both feet?. There is no law prohibiting driving with both feet, even for the operation of an automatic transmission vehicle.

The use of both feet when driving in a car that has automatic transmission could result in an accident in case you push both pedals at the same time. Not only that, pushing both pedals simultaneously can cause stress to your transmission’s fluid, the torque converter and brake fluid of the vehicle.

However, there are cars that are able to engage the break system when both pedals are engaged at the same time. Such cars can accommodate driving with both feet.

Is it illegal to eat and drive?

Eating while driving is a form of distracted driving which can lead to horrible consequences on the road. While no law specifically says you can’t eat and drive in most US states, it can be a secondary offense when pulled over for some other road offense.

Driving requires strict attention always and reckless driving could result from eating while driving because of the divided attention.

In the state of Washington, you could get a $99 citation for eating, reading, grooming, smoking and driving as a secondary offense when pulled over for a primary offense by cops such as reckless driving.

In Australia, a woman was charged with Reckless driving when another road user photographed her eating a bowl of cereal while driving. Apparently, she was steering with her knees, a dangerous situation which put herself and other road users in danger.

Reckless driving Texas

Reckless driving in Texas is a class B misdemeanor and the Texas Transportation Code – TRANSP § 545.401 defines reckless driving as driving a vehicle in wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

A person commits the offence when they drive recklessly on a highway, any place with public access excluding paid parking lots, garage or private residential property.

Reckless driving Texas punishment

An offense of Reckless driving is punishable by:

• Up to $200 in fines
• A jail sentence not exceeding 30 days
• or Both.

Reckless driving Texas speed limit

The speed limit that would constitute reckless driving is 20mph more than the speed limit. Racing on public roads is a typical example of acts that would see you prosecuted for Reckless driving in Texas.

Conclusion

In answering the question; Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Texas?, we have taken a look at the relevant laws and can conclude that, driving barefoot doesn’t break any law. However, it is important to be aware of the safety concerns with driving with your bare feet.

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