Driving barefoot in South Dakota is not illegal. There are no state laws that prohibit operating a vehicle without shoes, making barefoot driving legal in South Dakota. This is consistent with the legal situation across all U.S. states, as no state has laws explicitly banning barefoot driving. However, despite its legality, driving barefoot is generally discouraged by safety experts. The risk of your foot slipping off the pedals or reduced control while driving barefoot can be hazardous.
South Dakota law enforcement could, in theory, cite a driver for distracted or reckless driving if driving barefoot is found to impair vehicle control and safety, especially if it leads to an accident. But simply driving without shoes does not by itself constitute a traffic violation. The recommendation is to wear proper footwear for optimal pedal control and safety, but no specific legal penalty attaches merely to barefoot driving.
Thus, while legal in South Dakota, drivers should consider potential safety risks and how barefoot driving might affect their ability to operate a vehicle safely and responsibly to avoid accidents or related traffic citations. In short, barefoot driving is legal but not always advisable due to safety concerns.
Sources
(https://kxrb.com/is-it-illegal-to-drive-barefoot-in-south-dakota-2/)
(https://b1027.com/ixp/481/p/is-it-illegal-to-drive-barefoot-in-south-dakota-3/)
(https://973kkrc.com/illegal-to-drive-in-flip-flops/)
(https://us1033.com/barefoot-driving-north-dakota-legal/)
(https://mokaraminjurylawyers.com/blogs/is-it-illegal-to-drive-barefoot-in-the-usa/)
