Oklahoma drivers can breathe easy, and so can their feet. Contrary to what one’s uncle, high school driver’s ed teacher, and that one guy at the gas station swear, it is not illegal to drive barefoot in the Sooner State. Yes, you read that right: your toes are free to grip the gas pedal like talons, if that’s what makes you feel alive on Highway 70.
The myth has been around for generations, often delivered with the same tone of authority as “don’t swim after eating” or “gum takes seven years to digest.” Some swear they heard it from the Highway Patrol themselves. However, troopers said it simply isn’t true. “
It’s perfectly legal,” confirmed one officer, though he admitted to seeing a man in Guthrie try to drive in fuzzy house slippers. “That was… a hazard to public safety and fashion.”
The benefits of barefoot driving, enthusiasts said, include “better pedal control,” “increased airflow,” and “a more spiritual bond with the car.” Critics argue it’s just gross.
Linda Mae Hargis of Ardmore,whooncecompleted a three-hour trip to Tulsa without shoes, defended the practice.
“Icouldfeeleveryvibration of the road. It was like a foot massage,” she said.
Her husband, however, quickly added: “The car still hasn’t recovered,” he said with a giggle.
Expertscautionthatwhile barefoot driving isn’t illegal, it can be risky. Wet feet might slip, toes can cramp and flipflops, while technically shoes can wedge under the brake pedal and ruin your day faster than a flat tire on I-35. Still, Oklahoma remains one of the safest states for those who like to roll down the windows, crank up the music and let their little piggies go to market while cruising past the county line.
So, the next time someone tells you it’s against the law to drive without shoes, feel free to kick off those boots, wiggle your toes,and remind them: this is America, and in Oklahoma, even your feet have the freedom to ride.