One of the rarer things that can happen to you as a driver is to have to drive barefoot.
But when it happens sooner or later, you’ll see it’s a very different experience than driving in shoes.
For someone, it’s perfectly OK especially if him/her are acquainted with walking barefoot.
But some find the experience somewhat awkward, uncomfortable, or even unpleasant.
To perhaps avoid this, we’ll give you a couple of tips for how to drive barefoot that may help.
WHY WOULD YOU DRIVE BAREFOOT?
The most common reason for driving barefoot is wearing inappropriate footwear like flip-flops for instance which are very dangerous for driving because they can easily slip under the pedal or get stuck.
In order to avoid possible problems while driving, it’s better to take them off.
It may be that you’re on a long ride and to make yourself much more comfortable, you take your shoes off.
Since we’re mentioning this topic, you can take a look at our article on how to drive in high heels if you’re a woman driver. You can also watch the video on the Danka Praktik Youtube channel.
Whatever the case, when you drive like this, you’ll immediately see that it’s a whole different experience than driving in shoes.
To avoid discomfort and have a better experience, take a look at these tips.
HOW TO DRIVE BAREFOOT?
1. POSITION YOUR FOOT PROPERLY
The first tip is to position your foot properly on the pedal.
Always push the pedal with the upper part of your foot, where the ball is.
Also, when pushing the pedal, arch the foot so you can get better support.
Keep the heel on the floor while driving to rest the foot. But if you have a smaller foot, you may have to raise it all the time to properly push the pedal.
This is one of the reasons why it’s better to drive in shoes.
Simply, there is more leverage and the foot can rest better.
2. KEEP THE SOLES OF YOUR FEET CLEAN AND DRY
Make sure that the soles of your feet are clean and dry before you start driving.
Clean in this case means clean from any kind of debris like small pebbles, sharp pieces, or a thorn perhaps.
Any of this may cause discomfort or even pain when pushing the pedal which causes a slower reaction while driving.
More importantly, keep the soles dry. If they’re wet the foot can easily slip on the pedal and cause problems. This goes double if you drive a stick shift and you have to press the clutch all the time.
So, if your feet are wet or feel slippery for some reason, wipe them with a cloth or paper towel perhaps.
3. MAKE SURE THE CAR FLOOR IS CLEAN
If you’re going to drive barefoot, best take out the floor mats, shake them out, and clean them.
This is important since any kind of leftover dirt or filth may contain sharp objects like the mentioned pebbles, small rocks, or else.
Any of these can easily harm your foot while driving or resting the foot, especially the heel, arch, and ball since a lot of pressure is on them.
Also, the feeling while driving is much better as the dirt won’t stick to your soles and cause discomfort.
CONCLUSION
If you have the opportunity, give barefoot driving a try just to get the feel of it.
You don’t have to do it in traffic if you don’t feel safe. Try somewhere in a parking lot or your driveway.
As you’ll see, it’s a totally different feeling from what you’re used to and gives driving a whole new meaning. In most cases, you feel somewhat more connected to the car.
If you see that you’re not comfortable with driving barefoot, at least you’ll know it for sure. In this case, always try to pay attention to what kind of shoes you drive in.
Make sure that they are safe and comfortable for driving so you don’t have to take them off.
But, again, give barefoot driving a try at least once.
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