A week back i was assessing a driver in his automatic car, as a basic i was looking Head, Hand, Leg and the road ahead.
I found that he was using left leg for his brake, to get his view i asked him a question, why you are using left leg for your braking, he said i m being ready for prompt reaction. Though i suggest
him to use only right leg for his brake and accelerator. He asked me "is there any safety reason".. I mentioned about what if he got manual car. do you guys have any answer for his question.
ARJUN
brenda curtis • I train for the paratransit industry. I have had 2 drivers using their left foot on the brake. I was unable to pass them because passengers would not receive a safe or comfortable ride. There is to much risk driving this way.
Kermit Krieger • Obviously todays average driver can't handle even the concept of Left foot braking let alone give their driving the total attention required to be compleatly safe. Most people just endure the task of driving to get from point A to point B while most of their attention is directed elsewhere. I have observed this attitude during over 4 million miles of driving buses and "big rigs" where one sits at a higher level than those in cars and can observe the many distractions going on from that vantage point. Cell phones are a very small percentage of the distractions I've seen. Looking at the passengers while talking to them is the most typical also turning compleatly around to disipline children in the back seat occurs all too often let alone the many others such as applying make-up, eating, retrieving something dropped on the floor, and even reading. Heaven forbid we could ever expect the average driver to peactice the safe and efective way of left foot braking by resting the foot next to the peadal, not on it and with adequate practice not bracing on the accelerator in a panic. Even though we could cut accelerator to brake reaction time easily in half and prevent many accidents by so doing I give up the cause. As always we reduce everyone to the level of the least capable.
Rudy Wiebe • Can someone please explain how it would be quicker to move the left foot from the floor to the brake pedal than it is to move the right foot from the accelerator to the brake? IF one is looking far enough ahead and reading the traffic, rather than just at the vehicle immediately in front of, then most often you can 'anticipate' what's coming and remove your foot from the acceleratror to 'cover' the brake pedal and be ready to brake if/when needed. This of course would require that you leave adequate 'following distance' and of course that you actually are giving attention to your driving.
Bob Joynt • Rudy, it is possible depending on the vehicle, training and experience, in heavy traffic. with animals & kids running alongside the road and other drivers who do not play by the rules it can be an effective technique for "Some" drivers with training and experience.
I am not referring to "Riding" the brakes or touching the brake pedal until needed.
david pepperdine • Arjun, on your post of 8 days ago you asked, "What you suggest for those who are using one for brake and the other for gas" I would suggest that if they must use that method they should have lots of experience in using it before driving in traffic. but to be honest I cannot see any advantage in using the left foot . If you are reading the road and planning correctly your foot should be over the correct pedal when it is needed and if it is not, then (as posted on these forums regularly) you are not driving correctly and safely
Keith Lane • .
Rudy, I fully agree with you –
Whilst there are a few specialist vehicles, i.e. single-seat racing cars, go-carts, etc, that are designed for 2-footed operation where the left foot is permanently hovering over the brake pedal,
for the typical driver in a typical road car, there will be absolutely NO time difference whatsoever between:–
lifting the right foot from the gas pedal, moving it sideways, and pressing the footbrake pedal,
or
lifting the left foot from the footrest, moving it sideways, and pressing the footbrake pedal.
However, everyone seems to have missed 2 important situations where 2-footed driving is necessary –
1. After driving through deep water, it is necessary to keep the car moving with the gas pedal whilst simultaneously gently using the footbrake to wipe, dry, and warm the brake shoes / pads.
2. Whilst manoeuvring on a steep gradient with an auto transmission, it may be necessary to maintain revs & power with the gas pedal whilst simultaneously controlling speed with the footbrake.
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