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69 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, May 24, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Biz Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 13, 2005 Since You Asked Driving barefooted is lawful Two questions: First, is it illegal to drive barefooted? My mother swore it was, and I have looked in the new driver’s manual and can’t see any reference to it. Second: How are the grandfather and grandsons doing that the Wimer Covered Bridge fell on? I know they probably can’t speak about the lawsuit part, but I know people just want to know how they all are physically. Thanks. — Leann M., Medford You couldn’t have picked two more unrelated questions, Leann. But, hey, we’re used to the unusual here in the Twilight Zone at Since You Asked World Headquarters. Let’s tackle the first question. Barefoot-driver laws have become something of an urban legend, but are relics of the past. Dace Cochran, a sheriff’s patrol sergeant, has said the law was created for the Ford Model T because the foot pedals didn’t have rubber pads and were directly attached to the engine. After driving a bit, the pedals became pretty hot, making it rather difficult to drive barefoot. By the mid-1930s, automobiles had better designs, and the laws against driving barefoot became relegated to the dustbin of history. Advertisement As to your second question, the grandfather, Billy "Mickey" Haynes of Wimer, is still recovering from the head trauma he received from the 2003 bridge collapse. His attorney, Tom Tongue of Portland, said Haynes would be undergoing heart surgery. "The stress of this sort of thing can’t help anyone’s heart," he said. Haynes, a mechanic, has been on light duty because he has difficulty moving his arm and shoulder. As to the twin grandsons, Mickey and Cleo Harvey of Medford, they are both doing fine, said Tongue. The grandfather and twins haven’t reached any settlement with the county, which had responsibility for the bridge, so Tongue said he anticipates filing a lawsuit in the near future. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s