It is not illegal to drive barefoot in Illinois. There is no state law or regulation that prohibits driving a car or truck without shoes on. This is a common misconception, but both Illinois law and the laws of all other U.S. states allow barefoot driving.
However, while it is legal, law enforcement and safety experts generally discourage driving barefoot due to potential safety risks. Driving without shoes can reduce your grip and control on the pedals, and if your bare foot slips off the brake or gas pedal, it could contribute to an accident. In such cases, if being barefoot is found to have played a role in causing a crash, you could be cited for reckless or negligent driving, and it may affect liability in insurance claims or lawsuits.
There are also no specific insurance exclusions for barefoot driving, but if it contributed to an accident, it could be considered evidence of negligence. For motorcycles, different rules may apply, but for cars and trucks, you are free to drive barefoot if you choose.
Driving barefoot in Illinois is legal, but if it impairs your ability to drive safely or leads to an accident, you could still face legal and financial consequences related to unsafe driving.
Sources
[1] https://www.seidmanlaw.net/blog/is-it-illegal-to-drive-with-no-shoes-on/
[2] https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/driving-without-shoes
[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtectAndServe/comments/2yr24m/a_cop_in_illinois_pulled_me_over_and_told_me_that/
[4] https://1440wrok.com/is-driving-barefoot-legal-in-illinois/
[5] https://www.samlemanmorton.com/illegal-to-drive-barefoot-illinois/
