/\ I also never sit straight legged on chairs for extended periods of time, unless I'm in a formal meeting or dinner. Without realizing it I put one leg or both under me in the office and at dinner. So it's not just the car, and it's just one of those risks in life that I hope never comes back to bite me.

I'm guilty of all of this. I have hypermobile hips (i.e., double jointed) that subluxate easily and get really uncomfortable with my feet straight out in front of me. My hips don't keep my legs in line and they feel wobbly. So when I'm driving an automatic (I drive both) for longer distances, I often prop up my knee or tuck my left foot under my right thigh, and put my right leg up at lights. Never thought to put my entire leg on the dash though...and I don't think that would help my hip position anyways... My manual seems to be better because I'm moving both feet/legs to drive. Maybe that's just in my head, but it's not like you can drive a manual one-footed anyways.

I'm also terribly guilty of putting my feet on the dash or sitting cross legged in the passenger seat. It drives DH crazy, but I just can't take the discomfort of my feet down for multiple hours. I've seen the articles and I know it's dangerous, so I try to do it periodically to give my hips a break and keep my feet down as much as possible. TBH, I've dislocated my hips and knees multiple times anyways, so barring horrible hip fractures, the risk of dislocation doesn't worry me as much as it probably should. I would never put my feet up in someone else's car though, that is terribly rude.

I also read some article once about flip flops getting stuck under the pedals, so always take off slide on sandals in the summer. Also take off heavy boots (like rain boots) in the winter if it's not wet and slushy, and the boot impedes my range of motion in my ankles/feet.

I do sometimes hike my left leg up on the seat. I am actually sitting this way in my chair right now.

I drive barefoot most of the time, and like being able to feel the pedal and all the resistance. When I wear shoes now, I don't like that I can't feel it as well.

No accidents for 20 years.

High heels are hard to drive in, especially the thin ones that can get snagged in the floor mat or make it hard to tell your foot distance versus usual

Anonymous wrote:Someone explain how or why to either of these.

You gotta be a leg man to understand.. I saw my first beaver early 80s in Dallas Texas. A woman of 40hrs ( little more little less) dress in a business suit complete with flesh tone pantyhose! I was about 25 and had my CDL. I looked over and this good looking corporate office worker had her skit pulled up to her waist Left Foot on Seat and those flesh tone pantyhose were shinning in the Dallas sun!! I still remember the blue panties underneath the nylons,,,, been hooked ever since. Mercy,,, Wow

Barefoot -

In the “olden days”, the firewall and pan of the car were not well insulated and a lot of heat was produced. Bare feet on hot floors was not good. How hot? Ask someone how hot the seatbelt anchor bolts used to get. Or the transmission hump. Also, if there is something sharp in the brake and you hit it hard, you’ll pull your foot off when you need it most.

Legs not on floor -

The primary reason is safety. Not airbag or what happens in a crash, but your ability to react in an emergency. If something happens suddenly (like a tire blowing out at highway speed or a retread smashing your windshield) you simply will not have the same capability to maintain control if you’re sticking your foot on the dash or sitting cross-legged.

I have a manual and I often take my shoes off the drive. Anything that might slip off my foot while I'm moving it (like flip flops) seems to be way more of a hazard. I had a shoe get wedged one time while shifting, and that's a scary feeling. So I usually drive barefoot when wearing flimsy shoes.

In the summer that means a lot. In the winter I'm normally wearing heavier shoes so I don't take them off.

I had a coworker who used to take her shoes off because she didn't want the heel to get scuffed.

I never put my legs up whether I’m driving or riding shotgun. I saw a show once on the risk of airbag injuries from improper seating positions and that convinced me. Driving with your hands in the wrong position on the wheel is also bad because if the airbag deploys into your arms, it will fling your hands back into your face at high speed.

Back seat, whatever, as long as the seatbelt is in the right position.

Barefoot doesn't sound comfy but in socks, sure because it's nice to let my (wide) feet breathe.

It's uncomfortable for me when my feet and legs are dependent at length. I sit crosslegged as a passenger daily.

As a driver, for a long trip, I could see one foot being behind the other knee once in a while maybe? It doesn't feel natural to me to drive without both feet down though.

Women drive with one foot in the seat to air out their privates. I drive a tall SUV and enjoy the show.

I've heard barefoot is illegal, but I can't figure out why.

I do that pretty frequently, honestly. I don't feel like it impedes my ability to operate the pedals.

And on long road trips, I will prop my left leg up on the seat, but not on the dash or out the window

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's tacky or trashy.

I am sure it's more dangerous in case of an accident. At least the foot on dash part. Maybe not if it's on the seat in the half-criss cross apple sauce style. We really need a better word for that style of sitting, as "criss cross apple sauce" sounds ridiculous.

But also to me it feels more dangerous in terms of my own reaction time. I don't feel I could respond as quickly and effectively to a sudden obstacle if I had one foot on the dash (even though I don't need that one for the pedals. Therefore, i really never do it when I'm driving, though I frequently do it when I'm in the passenger seat.

I just call it sitting cross legged. I've never heard criss cross apple sauce.

It's a kid related thing. Said in an annoying sing-songy voice by teachers of young kids. Most adults say cross legged.

...or “Indian style”

Anonymous wrote:It's illegal to drive barefoot. I wouldn't be comfortable anyway.

One foot on the dash? Not sure if I could do it physically lol.

I can see propping one foot on the seat but I'm one who would worry about safety.

Where do you see that it's illegal? Have never heard such a thing and google doesn't seem to agree...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's tacky or trashy.

I am sure it's more dangerous in case of an accident. At least the foot on dash part. Maybe not if it's on the seat in the half-criss cross apple sauce style. We really need a better word for that style of sitting, as "criss cross apple sauce" sounds ridiculous.

But also to me it feels more dangerous in terms of my own reaction time. I don't feel I could respond as quickly and effectively to a sudden obstacle if I had one foot on the dash (even though I don't need that one for the pedals. Therefore, i really never do it when I'm driving, though I frequently do it when I'm in the passenger seat.

I just call it sitting cross legged. I've never heard criss cross apple sauce.

It's a kid related thing. Said in an annoying sing-songy voice by teachers of young kids. Most adults say cross legged.