Las Vegas NV— Barefoot Is Legal (barefootislegal.org) founder Dave Kelman has announced the 5th annual #IDriveBarefootChallenge June 5-7, 2020.
Self.com (1) states about 1.4 million accidents are caused annually by wearing improper shoes. Instead of people simply kicking off their heels, flip flops, clogs, & platforms, people try to drive with them on. Most have heard it is against the law to drive barefoot.
“This is about saving lives. Americans think it is illegal to drive a car barefoot. Someone told them growing up that it was against the law. It never was illegal. Some even try driving in broken flip flops because they don’t want to get in trouble for driving barefoot. We are conditioned to think it is wrong or against the law to not wear shoes. ”
Some women say they are in too much of a hurry to think about it. “We have many women that say they do not have time to kick off their flip flops. It takes less than a second to take your feet out of your shoes and put them under your seat or the seat next to you. Everyone thinks accidents are for everyone else – not for them. “
Platform heels, wedges, and thick soled shoes need much more force to stop a car. When driving on a busy freeway at high speed, we may not be able to brake immediately if someone jumps in your lane without a turn signal.
“If your foot comes out of your shoe when driving, the common reaction is to get your shoe back on. We have been conditioned to believe this is important. As we focus our thoughts and energy on putting our shoe back on, there is no thought on putting your foot on the brake. We sacrifice our car to make sure we have our shoes on at all times. “
Sandal straps and shoelaces have been caught around the brake or accelerator, leaving your foot in a bad predicament to drive.
Flip flops, slides, and backless shoes can fall off when driving. Wearing with socks makes driving even more risky, as it is even more likely to fall off when having to move quickly.
“People that wear sandals generally WANT to go barefoot. They heard through years of rumors it was against the law. So the average American lady will go to Old Navy or Dollar Tree and find cheap one dollar flip flops just to not get yelled at or ticketed. This has been a rumor for 55 years it is illegal. We are becoming less safe because we believe in a long-standing myth.”
How can we verify no such laws exist? Kelman tells everyone : “You can verify the legality of driving barefoot in four ways. 1) Visit our website and see the legal research we have done http://www.barefootislegal.org/driving 2) Call your local DMV Or go to their website and research 3) Do a simple internet search 4) Call American Automobile Assoc (AAA) and ask them – they even have a section on the myth in the annual Motor Digest Laws.”
Alabama requires shoes to be worn while driving a motorcycle. It does not specify what shoes to be worn.
Barefoot Is Legal is only endorsing safe automobile driving for this challenge, and not riding motorcycles.

(1) https://www.self.com/story/health-flip-flops-dangerous-for-driving