There are currently no laws that forbid driving while wearing a walking boot on either foot, despite the apparent safety risks. It’s up to you want to do, but know that most doctors advise against it. Why so? You’ll know in a moment.
Something that hardly anyone wants to deal with is a broken bone and the inconvenience that comes with it, regardless of the profession they have. And if your injury is severe to the point that it requires wearing a walking boot or cast, your mobility, and activities are limited, which might cause some problems in your day-to-day life. Does it limit your driving capability as well?
Can you drive with a walking boot on either of your feet? How safe is it? What are the health risks?
Get all your answers in this article! Keep on reading to find out.
Can You Drive with a Walking Boot on Your Right Foot?
The usual recommendation in response to the query is, you should refrain from driving while wearing a walking boot if you would have it on your right foot, according to Eduardo. However, it is not illegal to drive in such conditions, and you can always seek advice from your doctor.
When it comes to operating a vehicle while wearing a boot on your right foot, your safety should be the top priority.
A walking boot may make it more difficult for you to operate the pedals accurately, lessen your sensitivity, and result in you tripping with them. Additionally, it may restrict your range of motion, making it challenging to effectively move the steering wheel. You are more likely to be involved in a car wreck if you can’t correctly use the pedals or steering wheel.
So, until you become accustomed to driving with them on, exercise caution.
Can You Drive with a Walking Boot on Your Left Foot?
It is advised not to drive with a walking boot on your left foot if it poses health risks and hinders the healing process. However, since the left foot requires less movement while operating a car than the right one does, your physician might permit you to get behind the steering more.
There is no apparent law that forbids driving while having a walking boot on the left foot, but your physical restriction might be the cause to avoid it.
If your vehicle has a manual transmission, pressing the clutch pedal will require your left foot, which presents a challenge with a walking boot because then your left leg won’t have a complete range of motion.
Is It Illegal to Drive with a Broken Leg or Foot?
It is NOT illegal to drive with a broken or injured foot as long as you are preventing intake of any narcotic medicines or seductive pills, and you are comfortable with driving. However, you are not permitted to drive legally if your doctor advises against it.
As our reflexes and decisions are often hindered when using any kind of narcotic painkiller, no one is legally allowed to drive while using these substances. It’s not just safe for you. Also, obtaining a doctor’s approval to drive will probably be quite difficult if your broken bone is in your right leg.
What are the Side Effects of Driving with a Walking Boot?
As of right now, there are no rules against driving while having a broken foot, but you should consider the consequences first. Some of the side effects of driving with a walking boot on are given.
- Health Risks: No medical professional will necessarily encourage driving with a walking boot on your foot. You could put a strain on your wound and injury and delay your bones from recovering properly.
- Delayed Reactions and Mishandle Risks: Driving performance can be negatively impacted by wearing a walking boot or cast on the right foot. You’re likely to have a considerably slower braking reaction, and also some people mistakenly apply the brake and accelerator at the same time during this situation. Moreover, the decreased muscle control can make it more challenging for you to rapidly and properly locate the correct pedal in emergency scenarios. The slow reactions perhaps can cause an accident or more severe injuries.
- Limited Motion: Driving with boots on reduces your available space for maneuvering because they occupy an ample amount of the pedal area. This makes it more difficult for you to precisely press the accelerator or brake pedal, which raises the risk of an accident.
Tips for Driving with a Walking Boot
If you are willing to drive despite having a walking boot on, talk to your doctor first about any special instructions they may have for you. Here are some additional tips to help make your experience a little less tough and exhausting:
- Before starting to drive, make sure the walking boot is securely fastened to your leg. You definitely don’t want it to come off and get stuck under the pedals. But then again, you need to make sure your walking boot is comfy enough for you.
- You can try wearing a shoe balancer for walking boots on the uninjured foot when you plan to drive, this way your leg height isn’t uneven. Also, make sure you can readily reach the pedals before you begin driving by adjusting your seat.
- Use both hands to raise yourself up as you enter and exit the vehicle. Avoid putting any weight on the hurt foot.
- You need to be extra cautious when braking and turning because a boot can restrict your range of motion. If driving slowly is required, then do so. To avoid endangering your life or the lives of other road users, you must maintain precise control of the vehicle.
- Plan rest stops into your schedule if you’re doing a lengthy road journey.
- Put a pillow or towel in between your boot and the seat when you want to practice driving while wearing a boot on your right foot.
Some Additional Queries On Walking Boot
There are many recommendations for wearing walking boots, but not all of them may apply to your circumstance. It is better to follow your physician’s advice on the above queries we’ll be discussing now. However, we have got you some general answers.
Can You Wear Your Walking Boot to Bed?
Yes, you can wear your walking boots to bed, and you should. Depending on the condition and the person, there are different limitations on how frequently and for how long one can remove the boots. However, most physicians advise that you shouldn’t remove your walking boots for the first few weeks after the injury, not even when you’re sleeping.
Also, there are actually a few advantages to sleeping with your air boots on.
It’s likely that when you’re sleeping, you’ll forget about your injury and end up putting a lot of pressure on your feet. Continuing to wear boots even during sleep will ensure that your feet stay comparatively protected. Again, when you sleep, your muscles relax in a different posture than they would if you were wearing the boot, this could affect the healing process. So, it’s better to keep the boot on.
Should You Wear Walking Boots while Showering?
You can take off the boots while showering unless your doctor advises not to. However, under all circumstances, you need to keep your boots dry since wearing a wet one runs you the risk of contracting bacterial and fungal diseases.
If your doctor advises keeping your boot on while showering, take precautions to prevent it from getting wet. Place your leg inside a plastic bag, then tape the top of the bag to your leg so that water can’t reach the boots. You can use a hair dryer set to cool air for drying your walking boots if it becomes wet somehow.
And if you remove them while showering, priority should be given to never putting weight on the foot, because doing so could make the injury worse. You may shower while sitting on a chair in this case.
Should You Use Crutches with Walking Boots?
No, you don’t necessarily need crutches when you are wearing a walking boot unless your doctor advises otherwise. However, though it may not seem convenient, using a crutch while wearing a walking boot is frequently safer.
When the injury is severe and you are inexperienced with walking boots, you need crutches along with your walking boot to ensure your safety. Even when the injury is not that severe, a crutch or cane can assist in removing some of the pressure from the foot. Also, your non-affected foot might not need to wear a higher-heeled shoe if you use a cane or crutch with you.
Final Thoughts
No traffic rules prohibit driving while wearing boots, therefore you won’t face any legal repercussions. However, it’s crucial that you consider some factors to ensure that you can drive with a walking boot safely.
To determine whether you are safe to drive on actual roads, firstly, ensure that the boot isn’t interfering with your ability to quickly press the brake or accelerator. Next, check to see whether your discomfort isn’t distractingly bad.
We hope that you may benefit from our advice. To acquire the most up-to-date information about your specific situation, do not just rely on us; always verify with your local traffic authority.
