After a day at the beach, whether on the Cape, you might be tempted to drive barefoot. After all, your feet are sandy and your flip flops slippery.
But is it legal?
Drivers have claimed they cruise around shoeless as it helps them have better control of the gas and brake pedals than if they wore shoes or boots. But while an expert told USA TODAY that driving barefoot can be dangerous, it is still legal in Massachusetts.
Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Massachusetts?
It is not illegal to drive barefoot in Massachusetts.
In fact, barefoot driving is legal in all 50 states.
The only exception is in Alabama, where motorcyclists and “motor-driven cyclists” must wear shoes while driving and riding the vehicle.
As with any sunny day, cars line up waiting for a parking space at Nauset Light Beach in Eastham Monday afternoon. In celebration of the Great American Outdoors Act, all National Park Service sites waived entrance fees. Photo taken Aug. 4, 2025
Is driving barefoot safe?
Being comfortable while driving is always a top priority. But AAA Senior Automotive Manager David Bennett said not to forgo footwear as a small slip-up could cause an accident.
“If your feet are bare and you try to apply pressure to the pedals, your foot can easily slip on the pedals,” he said. “It may not apply pressure evenly and you can injure a toe.”
For motorcyclists, Bennett said the danger isn’t just driving the vehicle — road debris can fly up and injure the riders’ feet. People who ride vehicles without doors should wear shoes as well, he added.
Drivers should wear closed-toe shoes, Bennett suggested. Flip flops can be dangerous as the shoes could slip on the pedals and get stuck, according to Las Vegas-based Northwest Driving School.
Nathan Downs of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, drives barefoot during the summer. He believes doing so allows him to have better control of the pedals.
Is driving shirtless legal in Massachusetts?
You may also be tempted to drive shirtless after a long day in the sun.
No state explicitly bans driving shirtless, according to consumer legal site ConsumerShield, but a person could be cited for violating laws and local ordinances on public indecency.
“People need to be aware of the state laws on operating a motor vehicle in the states they’re driving in or through,” said Bennett.
There is no law against driving shirtless in Massachusetts, so you can do it as long as no inappropriate body parts are shown.
Massachusetts’s indecent exposure laws prohibit the exposure of genitalia, but not of upper body (including female breasts).
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Is it legal to drive barefoot in Massachusetts? See the law
