[Quiz] Which of these driving behaviors are actually illegal?
Are you accidentally committing crimes behind the wheel?
Reviewed By Ross Martin
Table of contents:
If you’ve been driving for a while, you (hopefully) know most of the driving laws in your state. You know to obey the speed limits and if you’re allowed to turn right on red or not. But what about some of the lesser-known laws?
For example…can you drive barefoot? How about with both feet (one for gas and one for brakes)? How about driving with your Pomchi Floyd in your lap?Â
Take our quiz to test your knowledge. Then come back for a little more context on these laws and why they exist.Â
What are the laws in your state?
If you haven't taken the quiz yet, be aware that spoilers lie ahead!
If you have taken the quiz, you know that some of what is legal in one state is not legal in others. Here's your cheat sheet for the quiz above.
Is it legal to drive barefoot?Â
Yes, in all states. More information on that here.Â
Is it legal to drive with both feet?Â
Yes, in all states. More information on that here.Â
Is it legal to drive with headphones?Â
This one depends on what state you live in. This table shows the legality and specific restrictions by state[1]:
You can also get greater context on driving with headphones laws here.Â
Is it legal to drive with a hand-held cell phone?Â
Many states have cracked down both on hand-held cell phone use and texting while driving in recent years. All states but Montana outlaw texting while driving. As for hand-held cell phone use that's outlawed in all of the following, with the exception of emergency calls[1].
Is it legal to vape while driving?
Yes, this, like smoking a cigarette while driving, is legal in all states, provided it does not distract you from obeying all other road rules.
Is it legal to drive with a pet on your lap?
Currently, there are no federal laws that require pets to be restrained while traveling in vehicles or avoid riding in the laps of drivers; however, some states have laws on the books[2].
The importance of driving without distractions
Many of the behaviors on this quiz, whether legal in your state or not, represent potential distractions that can take your eyes or attention off the road.Â
Distracted driving is a growing cause for concern for lawmakers, as around 3,000 people die each year due to distracted driving. And it can be hard to keep up with technology when it comes to outlawing different behaviors while operating a moving vehicle.Â
For example, one question many people are asking (which was not included in the quiz for lack of clear answers) was: Can you Facetime while driving? If you're holding the device in your hand and you live in a hands-free state then the answer is obviously no. But what if your device is mounted in the vehicle? Currently, there aren't a lot of laws specifically outlawing it, despite a video call being significantly more distracting than say a voice call.
How do you spell out exactly what is okay and what is not in the face of ever-evolving technology? These are the questions lawmakers are grappling with as they try to keep pace with the newest distractions.
In the meantime, we as drivers can only do our best to not only follow all applicable state laws, but also use common sense as we avoid distractions behind the wheel.