14 Driving Myths Debunked: Is it Illegal to Drive Barefoot?

Learning how to drive is all about gathering new skills, deepening your knowledge and approaching challenges safely. And while there’s plenty of support and resources available to those newly embarking on the journey, there’s also plenty of driving myths. Is it illegal to drive barefoot? Can you eat while driving? And what happens if you lose your licence? 

These are questions you may have thought of yourself, or myths you may have heard from friends or family. And almost all of them are not straightforward to answer.  

So in this article, we’ll debunk 14 myths you may have heard and clear up what’s simply frowned upon and what is actually illegal to do while driving. 

14: Is it illegal to drive barefoot?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive, and is an interesting myth to begin with. 

There is no specific rule or regulation in any state in Australia that says driving barefoot is illegal, but in saying that, that doesn’t mean it’s given a big thumbs up. 

Driving barefoot can be dangerous. The curves of your feet don’t provide the best surface area for your break or acceleration pedals, and it may impact your driving. 

Because your feet are exposed, breaking suddenly may cause pain to your heel, sole or toes, and because of this, your reaction time may be delayed the next time you need to break. It may also prove to be a distraction if you do get hurt, which may impede your ability to drive safely. 

While driving barefoot is not illegal, not having full control of your car and not paying full attention to the road is deemed illegal and can result in gaining demerit points and a hefty fine. 

So driving barefoot isn’t the most practical option. A good trick to avoid driving barefoot is to leave a pair of comfortable, durable shoes in the car at all times.

Otherwise, if your only option is to drive barefoot, a good rule of thumb is to make sure your feet are dry and have a good grip on your break and acceleration pedals to avoid any slipping or accidents. 

13: Is it illegal to eat while driving?

Whether it’s a busy day at work and you can’t stop for lunch, or you’re on a road trip with friends, you may consider having a snack while driving.

So, is it illegal to eat while driving? Great question. In short the answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no. Let’s unpack this further. 

In the state of Tasmania, learner drivers are taught to avoid eating while driving, although it is not a hard and fast ban.

In the state of South Australia, eating while driving is explicitly recognised as a distraction that prevents a driver from paying full attention to the road, making it illegal to eat while driving.

And in all remaining states across Australia, eating while driving can potentially be considered as not having full control of a vehicle, not driving with due care, or driving carelessly, and can incur some demerit points or a hefty fine in the hundreds. 

What seems as harmless as eating a few chips or a burger one-handed while driving has proven to be just as dangerous as sending a message on your phone. Which is why in some cases, it is illegal to eat while driving. 

12: Is it illegal to drive in thongs?

Much like the question we kicked this off with (myth 1: is it illegal to drive barefoot?) whether it is illegal to drive in thongs has a similar answer. 

Driving in thongs, flip-flops or jandals is not illegal in any state of Australia so long as you remain in control of your vehicle, and aren’t distracted for any which reason. So whether it’s work boots, heels or your beloved thongs, any shoes are legal to drive in.

But, in saying that, thongs aren’t necessarily the best choice of footwear. Their flexible sole doesn’t provide your feet with a lot of support and the Y-shaped strap is notorious for separating from the sole and essentially blowing out.

While your thong blowing out may be a funny occurrence when you’re at the beach with friends, it can become a real danger when you’re behind the wheel. 

There’s a chance your footwear may get stuck behind your pedal and prevent you from having full control of your breaks, which may cause an accident.

And as you may have clocked from before, it is illegal across states in Australia to not have full control of your car, which may cause you to incur a fine or receive several demerit points. 

To avoid a potential accident, and to ensure you have full control of your vehicle when you’re driving, it’s a good idea to keep a durable pair of shoes in the back of your car for those occasions where you’d like to wear thongs out and about. 

But if you don’t have any on hand, the next safest option would be to drive barefoot, which we now know is not illegal.

11: Is it illegal to drive with a broken hand?

“Can I drive a truck with a broken hand?” You’d be surprised by how many times we’ve heard this question.

There isn’t a rule or regulation in any state of Australia that makes it illegal to drive with a broken hand. But you may still be pulled over and fined if an officer deems it unsafe.

At the end of the day, what matters is how much control you have over your car, and if you can drive safely. This will be impacted by how big your splint or cast is, how much pain you’re experiencing while driving and how confident you are driving with an impaired hand.

If your splint or cast is quite large, let’s say it restricts your mobility from your palm to your elbow, then you would not be able to drive a truck or car with a broken hand.

Let’s say your splint is small, or only one finger is compromised, but your confidence is impeded by it, or pain and discomfort keep distracting you from the road, then equally, you would not be able to drive a truck or with a broken hand.

But if your hand mobility is minimally impacted, any pain or discomfort doesn’t distract you, and you’re confident while driving, then in theory you may be okay to drive.

However, if an officer pulls you over and determines otherwise, it may be hard to prove their judgement wrong.

You should consider your insurance too. Some insurance companies may not cover an accident that resulted from a previously broken or imobile hand.

And so while the law around driving a truck or car with a broken hand may be a little grey, and very circumstantial, the best option is always the safest option. 

So if you can find someone else to take the driver’s seat, then that would be the best way to go. 

10: Is it illegal to drive with a moon boot?

If you can’t really drive with a cast on your arm, can you drive with a moon boot? The answer is probably not.

While there isn’t a specific rule or regulation in any state across Victoria that makes driving with a moon boot illegal, chances are it’s not the best idea.

A study has found that a moon boot reduces your ability to brake by 25%, which as you can imagine may have some serious consequences. It also increases the likelihood of using both feet while driving and causing you to press the brake and acceleration at the same time, which adds another level of danger.  

Because of the direct impact a moon boot may have on your ability to drive safely, it’s likely that if stopped by an officer, you will be deemed not in full control of your car and penalised in accordance with your local law. 

As we know from the first myth we busted (myth 1: is it illegal to drive barefoot?), not being in full control of your car is illegal across Australia. 

On top of that, if your doctor explicitly deems it unsafe for you to drive with a moon boot, then there is no ambiguity about it: it would be illegal to drive with a moon boot on.

And chances are, your doctor will ask you to avoid driving with a moon boot. Not just for your safety, but also to ensure your injury heals without compromise, interference or complications.

9: Is it illegal to drive with headphones?

Maybe your car doesn’t have any Bluetooth connection or you just prefer jamming with your headphones on, either way, you’re probably wondering whether it is illegal to drive with headphones.

If you are on your learner’s or probationary 1 or 2 licence, it is considered illegal to drive with headphones as you are not allowed to use a mobile phone while driving, for any reason.

For those with a full licence, the law is a little more ambiguous and comes back to the concept of whether you have full control over your car and driving safely.

If wearing headphones does not impact your control over your car, and still allows you to have full capacity to anticipate any sudden changes in traffic (namely sirens and horns) then it’s likely that it is not illegal to drive with headphones.

But if you caused a car accident on account of jamming with your headphones in while driving, then you will be fined and reprimanded accordingly.

8: Is it illegal to drive with high beams on?

If you’re new to driving, you may be wondering: are you allowed to drive with high beams on? And the answer is yes, high beams are there for you to use to improve driving conditions.

When visibility is reduced, for example on rainy, foggy or dark nights, using your high beam headlights will help with visibility. 

But if there is a car 200m or closer coming towards or driving behind you, you are not allowed to drive with high beams on, and you must dip your headlights to the ‘low beam’ setting to prevent dazzling other drivers. 

7: Is it illegal to drive if you’ve lost your licence in Victoria?

We’ve had past students call us and ask, “Can I drive if I lost my licence?” and to answer this question fully, there are two aspects we need to look at.

If you’ve misplaced or damaged your licence or learner permit, then you’ll need to apply for a replacement licence online through Vic Roads. This should be fairly easy and straightforward to do. 

Once you’ve applied online, you’ll receive a receipt number which you are required to have on your person any time you drive until your replacement licence or permit arrives in your letter box (this will usually take 10 days). 

So in short, yes you can still drive if you have lost your licence and are waiting for a replacement licence to be issued.

If you’ve had your licence or learner permit revoked, then you can not legally drive any vehicle until your licence or learner permit is reinstated.

6: Is it illegal to drive after taking prescription medication?

So you’ve recently been prescribed medication; you may be thinking, “can you drive after taking prescription medication?” The answer will depend on what the medication has been prescribed for, and how it may impact your body and mind.

Medication that causes:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness or fatigue
• Nausea 
• Impaired vision
• Confusion or lack of alertness
• Muscle weakness
• Impaired depth perception
• Mood changes such as anxiety

are likely to interfere with your ability to drive safely and therefore it may be considered illegal to drive while taking them. 

It’s important to take extra care if this prescription medicine is new to you, as the side effects may be stronger with your first use. 

If you are unsure of how the prescription medication will affect you, there are two things you can use as guidance. 

Firstly, speak with the health professional that prescribed the medication to you and ask whether operating a vehicle would be safe while under its influence.

Secondly, refer to the medicine label, directions and warnings and heed any recommendations. If the label specifies it may impact driving, then you cannot drive after taking your prescription medication.

If you can’t find the directions to the prescription medication, NPC MedicineWise is a great resource.

But if your doctor deems it safe to drive, no warning labels say otherwise, and you don’t feel too unsteady to drive, then you can drive after taking prescribed medication. 

5: Is it illegal to drive with the interior light on?

If you grew up with parents telling you to keep the interior light turned off during car rides, then you may have grown up thinking it’s illegal to have them illuminated while the car is in use. In fact, it is not.

Interior lights were first introduced in the ‘60s to assist passengers and drivers to read maps on the go. While physical maps are no longer a part of our daily commute, interior lights have stuck around. 

And in short, it is not illegal to drive with the interior light on, but it’s best to only use it if you really need to. 

While it’s not considered an offence, and no explicit law in Australia bans its use while driving, it may cause distraction to other drivers around you.

If an accident occurs as a result of your interior light on, then it’s likely you will be charged with careless driving.

And as we know from the first myth we busted (myth 1: is it illegal to drive barefoot?), it’s illegal to drive carelessly in Australia. 

So it’s important to only use interior lights when you really need to, and keep them switched off to ensure the safety of those around you.

4: Is it illegal to drive after local anaesthetic?

Can you drive after local anaesthetic? Great question. As we found out in myth number 6 (is it illegal to drive after taking prescription medication?), medication can impact your ability to drive safely. So, what about local anaesthetic? 

Local anaesthetic is used during a procedure to numb the area you’re being operated on. While it doesn’t necessarily put you to sleep, it can still have an impact on your body, namely how alert you are and how much control you have over your body.

Whether or not you can drive after local anaesthetic will be determined by where the anaesthesia has been administered, how your body reacts to anaesthesia, and what your doctor recommends.

In most cases, your doctor or health practitioner will let you know if it is safe to operate a vehicle after your procedure.

Like whether it is illegal to drive barefoot, the law approaches driving after local anaesthesia similarly. There isn’t any law in Australia that bans driving after anaesthetic, but you must ensure you are in control of your vehicle and are driving carefully. 

If you feel like the local anaesthetic is impairing your vision or ability to have full control of your vehicle, then it would not be legal to drive after local anaesthetic, and you should find an alternate driver..

3: Is it illegal to drive without insurance?

If you’re a first time car owner, the thought of insurance may be daunting. While there are many types of insurance you can get, only one is legally required in each state of Australia.

And that’s Compulsory Third Party Insurance, also known as CTP insurance or a ‘green slip’ for those in New South Wales. 

CTP insurance ensures financial compensation is provided to any person who has suffered bodily harm as a result of a traffic accident caused by your vehicle. 

For Victorians, CTP insurance is included in the price of your registration which makes it easier to navigate. So when you register your vehicle at VicRoads, you’re covered. 

Other types of insurance, like comprehensive car insurance, third party fire and theft, or third party property damage, aren’t a legal requirement but they can be equally as valuable in ensuring you’re covered for events outside of your control.

2: Is it illegal to listen to music while driving?

Are you allowed to listen to music while driving? You may think the laws surrounding this are similar to whether you can drive while having your headphones in or not, but there’s a little more nuance with this one.

While listening to the radio or your favourite playlist on your daily commute may not be illegal, the volume at which you play your music may cause some concern. 

First, let’s tackle New South Wales and Queensland. These two states have laws that make listening to music loudly illegal. Whether you’re in your car or on the sidewalk, loud music is considered noise pollution and can leave you with a hefty fine.

For every other state, there’s no specific law that bans listening to music loudly. So long as the music you’re listening to doesn’t impair your ability to stay in control of your vehicle and pay attention to the road and ever-changing road conditions, then you should be okay.

So while you are allowed to listen to music while driving, you have to ensure it’s not loud enough to count as noise pollution, and doesn’t distract you from the road and changing road conditions.

1: Is it illegal to drive a car without number plates?

Let’s say you’ve just purchased an unregistered car and need to drive it home or to the mechanics. You may be wondering, “Can I drive a car without number plates?” and the answer is yes.

You can drive a car without number plates so long as you obtain an unregistered vehicle permit from your state’s registration authority.

This permit will only grant you a temporary ability to drive your unregistered vehicle and cannot replace registering your vehicle. 

They’re only really meant to cover you for the time it takes to prepare your vehicle to be registered, if you need to move a vehicle once-off, or if you have a rally car or carnival float. 

Once your vehicle has been registered, you are required to have your number plates on display at all times, and they must be visible from 20 metres. 

And if you don’t have a permit, then you cannot drive your car without number plates. 

The Takeaway

From whether it is illegal to drive barefoot to driving home after receiving local anaesthetic or wearing headphones while driving, there’s one common thread across each myth.

When there isn’t a specific law that prohibits an activity, it all comes down to safety. 

Are you in full control of your car? Are you paying attention to the road conditions? Are you driving safely and carefully? Do you feel confident driving?

If the answer is yes, then whether you’re wearing a moon boot, thongs or you’re driving barefoot, you should be okay to drive.