After a day at Lake Champlain, you might be tempted to drive barefoot. After all, your feet are sandy and your flip flops slippery. 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 Vermont. Leddy Park offers free parking, on site bathrooms and a long stretch of sandy beach to stretch out on. Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Vermont? It is not illegal to drive barefoot in Vermont. 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. 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 Vermont? 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 Vermont. In fact, public nudity is generally allowed in Vermont as long as the person leaves their house naked. (You cannot disrobe once outside.) However, "open and gross lewdness" is prohibited, and some local ordinances have more specific rules. Burlington, for example, voted for an indecent exposure ordinance that would ban showing one's "genitals or anal region." This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Is it legal to drive barefoot in Vermont? What to know before getting behind the wheel
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