From: Ian Jackson on
In message <80pr8lFm8tU1(a)mid.individual.net>, Miike G
<miktoolman(a)miktoolman.plus.net> writes
>
>"alan.holmes" <alan.holmes27(a)somewhere.net> wrote in message
>news:IuMpn.536786$DL1.193699(a)newsfe25.ams2.
>..
>>>> If they had any sense they'd keep they left foot permanently on the
>>>> floor and only use their right foot - both for the accelerator and the
>>>> brake. But manufacturers make double-width brake pedals and some even
>>>> say "you can use either foot on the brake" - I remember this being said
>>>> in some car brochures.
>>>
>>> And why shouldn't drivers use their left foot for braking in an
>>> automatic?
>>> I find it quite convenient especially when manouvering..
>>
>> If you drove a proper car, you would find it very easy to use your right
>> foot to operate the brakes!
>
>Sounds like a wind up if you believe automatics are not 'proper cars'
>But how does your reply answer my question?
>
>I do find it very easy to use my right foot to operate the brakes, but find
>in an automatic it's often more convenient to use my right foot to operate
>the accelerator, whilst the left does the braking. Why move ones foot from
>the accelerator to brake, then back again, when you can use your idle left
>foot instead?
>
>I choose to drive an automatic, but that doesn't mean I can't legally drive
>a manual. I frequently drive my wifes 'proper car?', a manual Corolla, and I
>also have a manual Berlingo van.

As someone who only drove an automatic (on a visit to the USA) after
over 20 years of driving manuals, using the left foot to brake would
have been completely un-natural, and almost certainly suicidal.

Don't automatic cars actually have a place to rest your left foot on? I
don't think it's expected that you should use your left foot at all,
and, despite the double-width pedal, I'm surprised any manufacturer says
that you can.
--
Ian
From: Harry Bloomfield on
on 22/03/2010, Ian Jackson supposed :
> As someone who only drove an automatic (on a visit to the USA) after over 20
> years of driving manuals, using the left foot to brake would have been
> completely un-natural, and almost certainly suicidal.

Only because your left foot has become used to the much greater
pressure needed to operate the clutch. Your right foot is used to the
much lighter feel of accelerator or brake pedals.

>
> Don't automatic cars actually have a place to rest your left foot on? I don't
> think it's expected that you should use your left foot at all, and, despite
> the double-width pedal, I'm surprised any manufacturer says that you can.

The double with pedal makes it possible to use either foot on the
brake.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk


From: Nick Finnigan on
Harry Bloomfield wrote:
> on 22/03/2010, Ian Jackson supposed :
>> As someone who only drove an automatic (on a visit to the USA) after
>> over 20 years of driving manuals, using the left foot to brake would
>> have been completely un-natural, and almost certainly suicidal.
>
> Only because your left foot has become used to the much greater pressure
> needed to operate the clutch. Your right foot is used to the much
> lighter feel of accelerator or brake pedals.
>
>>
>> Don't automatic cars actually have a place to rest your left foot on?
>> I don't think it's expected that you should use your left foot at all,
>> and, despite the double-width pedal, I'm surprised any manufacturer
>> says that you can.
>
> The double with pedal makes it possible to use either foot on the brake.

It is possible to use either foot on the brake pedal on a bog standard
manual UK car. It just needs a little practice.
From: Ian Jackson on
In message <mn.b4c27da3b5c2c66b.106911(a)NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk>, Harry
Bloomfield <harry.m1byt(a)NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk> writes
>on 22/03/2010, Ian Jackson supposed :
>> As someone who only drove an automatic (on a visit to the USA) after
>>over 20 years of driving manuals, using the left foot to brake would
>>have been completely un-natural, and almost certainly suicidal.
>
>Only because your left foot has become used to the much greater
>pressure needed to operate the clutch. Your right foot is used to the
>much lighter feel of accelerator or brake pedals.
>
>>
>> Don't automatic cars actually have a place to rest your left foot on?
>>I don't think it's expected that you should use your left foot at
>>all, and, despite the double-width pedal, I'm surprised any
>>manufacturer says that you can.
>
>The double with pedal makes it possible to use either foot on the
>brake.
>
Or, I suppose, both!
--
Ian
From: Miike G on

"Ian Jackson" <ianREMOVETHISjackson(a)g3ohx.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:w34J2NCns8pLFwar(a)g3ohx.demon.co.uk...
> In message <80pr8lFm8tU1(a)mid.individual.net>, Miike G
> <miktoolman(a)miktoolman.plus.net> writes
>>
>>"alan.holmes" <alan.holmes27(a)somewhere.net> wrote in message
>>news:IuMpn.536786$DL1.193699(a)newsfe25.ams2.
>>..
>>>>> If they had any sense they'd keep they left foot permanently on the
>>>>> floor and only use their right foot - both for the accelerator and the
>>>>> brake. But manufacturers make double-width brake pedals and some even
>>>>> say "you can use either foot on the brake" - I remember this being
>>>>> said
>>>>> in some car brochures.
>>>>
>>>> And why shouldn't drivers use their left foot for braking in an
>>>> automatic?
>>>> I find it quite convenient especially when manouvering..
>>>
>>> If you drove a proper car, you would find it very easy to use your right
>>> foot to operate the brakes!
>>
>>Sounds like a wind up if you believe automatics are not 'proper cars'
>>But how does your reply answer my question?
>>
>>I do find it very easy to use my right foot to operate the brakes, but
>>find
>>in an automatic it's often more convenient to use my right foot to operate
>>the accelerator, whilst the left does the braking. Why move ones foot from
>>the accelerator to brake, then back again, when you can use your idle left
>>foot instead?
>>
>>I choose to drive an automatic, but that doesn't mean I can't legally
>>drive
>>a manual. I frequently drive my wifes 'proper car?', a manual Corolla, and
>>I
>>also have a manual Berlingo van.
>
> As someone who only drove an automatic (on a visit to the USA) after over
> 20 years of driving manuals, using the left foot to brake would have been
> completely un-natural, and almost certainly suicidal.

As with any driving technique, using ones left foot to brake takes practice.
IMO it's not wise to use for normal braking, as you has little control over
the pressure on the pedal. Your body is not braced as it is if one foot is
on the floor, but when manouvering an automatic, I find it quite natural to
use my left foot for braking, and use my right foot to just operate the
accelerator..

> Don't automatic cars actually have a place to rest your left foot on? I
> don't think it's expected that you should use your left foot at all,

That doesn't mean that you can't or shouldn't.

> and, despite the double-width pedal, I'm surprised any manufacturer says
> that you can.

They're just stating a fact, and under the right circumstances, there's no
reason why you shouldn't use left foot braking.
Mike.