Is It Legal to Drive Barefoot in Tennessee?

When I was first learning to drive someone told a much younger version of me that was breaking the law by driving without shoes on, but were they right? Is it illegal to drive barefoot under Tennessee law?

I will be the first person to admit that I despise wearing shoes. The more time I can spend barefoot the better. More often than not shoes create an uncomfortable sensory feeling, and I just prefer to be barefoot.

Over the years I have learned what shoes are the most comfortable and which ones feel the most like being barefoot when I can't actually go shoeless, but even now I will sometimes find myself slipping my shoes off when I'm behind the wheel, especially on long drives.

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So is it illegal to drive barefoot? Have I been breaking the law all these years when I kick off my shoes? You might be surprised to learn that it is in fact, not illegal to drive barefoot in a single state in America, including Tennessee.

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While it may be perfectly legal to kick off our shoes and drive barefoot, it is not the safest option, according to DirectAuto.com. They say driving barefoot can reduce your grip and control on the pedals. They also advise that if you take off your shoes, that you don't leave them in the driver's side floorboard while you're driving due to the risk of them becoming lodged underneath one of the pedals.

So the next time you feel like kicking off your shoes, know that you aren't breaking any laws, but be sure that you take extra precautions.