Street Smarts reader Gary Tate, of Marysville, asks an intriguing question: “I could not find a definitive answer for Washington. Is it illegal to drive without shoes? I think this is a myth that needs to be denied or verified.”

Trooper Mark Francis gives us the legal (and practical) answer: “There is no law therefore it is not illegal. That being said, in driver’s ed, they teach you to wear appropriate footwear to avoid slipping off the gas pedal, getting stuck under the brake pedal, etc. If you break a law or cause a collision because of improper footwear, you’d be cited for that specific violation (speed too fast, following too close, wheels off roadway).”

From practical experience (and the annals of Stupid Things I Did As A Teenage Driver), I say it’s harder to drive barefoot — and definitely don’t wear flip-flop sandals.

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