Are You Breaking The Law By Driving In Your Bikini?

When choosing a swimsuit, you need to take into account not only fashion trends, but also the rules of the country in which you plan to relax. Sunbathing and swimming in the nude, topless or even in a bikini is prohibited in many popular resorts. It is also forbidden to play football on the beach, wear clogs with actual wooden soles and take with you ... a bear.


There are also bikini laws that you must read before heading to the beach.

When choosing a swimsuit, you need to take into account not only fashion trends, but also the rules of the country in which you plan to relax. Sunbathing and swimming in the nude, topless or even in a bikini is prohibited in many popular resorts. It is also forbidden to play football on the beach, wear clogs with actual wooden soles and take with you ... a bear.

The summer after I graduated from high school, I was of legal age and I took my first solo vacation. I went to a small beach town in Florida and after visiting the local areas in my bikini, I quickly learned of a few laws I was not previously aware of.

In certain situations, you can be given a citation for wearing a bikini in public places. Even though I was of the legal age, I did not know all of the road laws so that was a shock to me because it was a beach town.

Is it illegal to drive in a bikini? It might be considered as distracted driving in some areas

I am sure at some point during your vacation you have walked around a foreign neighborhood with only your bikini on. It is something that just feels natural to do because you are on vacation. You are supposed to be relaxing, and you want to be comfortable. What is more comfortable than having your body be free and unrestrained by clothing?

Even though your first instinct may be to prance or drive around in your bikini while vacationing, it may be illegal because it is  considered distracted driving   or merely distractive to local bystanders. Whether or not you think it is distracting, driving in a bikini is 100 percent illegal depending on the area and situation.

What is distracted driving?

Distracted driving is defined as when a driver becomes distracted by anything that has nothing to do with operating a vehicle. For instance, if you become mesmerized by the beautiful  shades of a Tahiti sunset   while driving and crash into another car, you can be held accountable.

Due to your attention being on the sunset and not your own vehicle or surrounding vehicles, you caused an accident. You were distracted while driving and depending on the laws of the area you are in, you can be held financially responsible.

Bikini driving might be a cause of distraction, although not explicitely illegal

Distracted driving can be split into three different categories – manual distractions, visual distractions, and cognitive distractions.

  • Manual distractions are when you take your hands off the wheel to do something outside of driving.
  • Visual distraction is when you remove your eyes from the road out in front of you.
  • Cognitive distraction is when you are thinking of something else to the point where you are distracted from properly operating your vehicle.

So how does wearing a bikini while driving fit into any of the categories associated with you being a distracted driver? Well, technically speaking, it does not. However, it does make you a distraction.

Wearing a bikini while driving can lead to other drivers and bystanders being visually or cognitively distracted by your appearance. A driver can be mesmerized by another driver being nearly topless or they can become cognitively distracted by thinking about how they saw a fellow driver in a bikini.

Regardless of anyone’s intentions, driving while in a bikini can cause a car crash if any driver becomes distracted by it. Unfortunately, the driver in the bikini may be held accountable for any accident if another driver becomes distracted by it.

It may sound absurd, but certain cities and states will hold every involved party accountable for wrecks caused by distracted driving.

Additional Considerations when Driving in Beachwear

Of course, when you think of distracted driving, texting or phone calls may come to your mind at first, but as already mentioned, there are other ways drivers can become distracted.

Before vacationing, you should consider learning a  new language through virtual classes   if you are visiting a foreign country. There may be important signs or notices posted about one’s attire or behavior while in the public that you can’t read unless you know the spoken language.

Another way that you can be prepared is by simply learning the laws and rules implemented in the city or state you are visiting. You can take time to study these laws while packing the  essentials for a beach trip.   In fact, knowing the laws should be considered an essential part of planning your trip.

Is it illegal to drive topless?

Another fact that is revealed when learning if driving in a bikini is illegal or not is that you could be considered as driving around topless when you’re wearing a bikini. And if that is the case, you can be charged with indecent exposure.

While driving to the beach in a bikini, a woman may receive more attention than if a man were to be driving without a shirt on. The chances of someone paying attention to a female driving topless against a male are much higher, so a person can file a complaint or a police officer can make an arrest if attention is incited.

Clearly, it is not fair that men generally get more of a pass with being topless, but you would rather be safe than sorry.

Is it illegal to drive barefoot?

If you are driving with just your bikini on, then it is safe to assume you are also probably wearing some type of sandals or you are going barefoot. But it is not considered illegal in most states to wear sandals or be barefoot when operating a regular passenger vehicle. However, it can be a safety hazard.

As a woman, I sometimes wear high heels, and I have also snatched them off as soon as I got back to the car. Besides being in a hurry to take them off because of my feet aching, I take them off because driving in heels can be difficult.

Similarly, a lot of people drive barefoot sometimes without realizing how dangerous it can be. While driving, your feet can become sweaty and slip off the pedal, causing you to crash. Your bare feet do not have the traction needed to operate your vehicle safely.

When in Doubt, Cover Up

Just to be safe and to avoid ruining your vacation, you should study up on the local laws and regulations for driving. Bring clothes to wear over your bikini and beachwear.

Your desire to be carefree and relaxed can lead to you unintentionally breaking laws, and receiving a hefty fine or citation would surely cause unnecessary stress on your vacation.

Imani Francies, CarInsuranceCompanies.net
Imani Francies, CarInsuranceCompanies.net

Imani Francies writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, CarInsuranceCompanies.net. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media and specializes in various forms of media marketing.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to drive in a bikini in most places, and what should drivers know about appropriate attire while driving?
Legality varies by region, but in many places, driving in a bikini may not be explicitly illegal but could be considered unsafe or distracting. Drivers should wear attire that doesn't impede their ability to drive safely.



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