Only drive autos - why not always left foot brake?
Discussion
Both cars in our family are now autos - all things being equal, why would I not permanently use right foot for accelerator and left for for brake at all times?
I know there have been similar threads about the merits of left foot braking, and I've seen the for/against arguments but if you only drive autos then the only downsides I can see are:
a) learning/adapting to it (not treating the brake pedal like a clutch pedal!) and
b) should you ever need to drive a manual you'd need reacquainting (although I having right foot braked all my life it's not something I'll forget how to do)
On the plus side, there is less (no?) switching feet between pedals and less time delay between braking and accelerating (although on the road this is a non-issue - it's a racing benefit only really?)
Just interested in others opinions on this. It may just not be worth learning as the road benefits are minimal and don't outweigh the risks in learning left foot braking in the first place?
I know there have been similar threads about the merits of left foot braking, and I've seen the for/against arguments but if you only drive autos then the only downsides I can see are:
a) learning/adapting to it (not treating the brake pedal like a clutch pedal!) and
b) should you ever need to drive a manual you'd need reacquainting (although I having right foot braked all my life it's not something I'll forget how to do)
On the plus side, there is less (no?) switching feet between pedals and less time delay between braking and accelerating (although on the road this is a non-issue - it's a racing benefit only really?)
Just interested in others opinions on this. It may just not be worth learning as the road benefits are minimal and don't outweigh the risks in learning left foot braking in the first place?
It's certainly possible, when I've been karting in the past I have no problems using left foot braking (you have no choice) but I'm not so sure about it in a car.
My first go in an auto many years ago led me to perform an emergency stop when I went to subconsciously change gear and pushed hard on the brake pedal.
I bought an auto last week, the second I've owned and it feels comfortable to carry on using my right foot to brake. I'm sure I could teach myself to use my left foot, but I'm not sure practicing on the roads is wise!
My first go in an auto many years ago led me to perform an emergency stop when I went to subconsciously change gear and pushed hard on the brake pedal.
I bought an auto last week, the second I've owned and it feels comfortable to carry on using my right foot to brake. I'm sure I could teach myself to use my left foot, but I'm not sure practicing on the roads is wise!
BB - sorry didn't mean to drag up again, as mentioned I'm aware of other threads but was focusing purely on specific case of only having auto cars.
In a go kart you instantly get used to it so if determined to shouldn't take long to get used to in a car (albeit finding somewhere to practice might not be easy). is it worth the effort?
In a go kart you instantly get used to it so if determined to shouldn't take long to get used to in a car (albeit finding somewhere to practice might not be easy). is it worth the effort?
Tomatogti said:
Both cars in our family are now autos - all things being equal, why would I not permanently use right foot for accelerator and left for for brake at all times?
I know there have been similar threads about the merits of left foot braking, and I've seen the for/against arguments but if you only drive autos then the only downsides I can see are:
a) learning/adapting to it (not treating the brake pedal like a clutch pedal!) and
b) should you ever need to drive a manual you'd need reacquainting (although I having right foot braked all my life it's not something I'll forget how to do)
On the plus side, there is less (no?) switching feet between pedals and less time delay between braking and accelerating (although on the road this is a non-issue - it's a racing benefit only really?)
Just interested in others opinions on this. It may just not be worth learning as the road benefits are minimal and don't outweigh the risks in learning left foot braking in the first place?
The quicker braking isn't a non-issue on the road at all! you will stop much quicker should you really need to in an emergency so where's the downside?I know there have been similar threads about the merits of left foot braking, and I've seen the for/against arguments but if you only drive autos then the only downsides I can see are:
a) learning/adapting to it (not treating the brake pedal like a clutch pedal!) and
b) should you ever need to drive a manual you'd need reacquainting (although I having right foot braked all my life it's not something I'll forget how to do)
On the plus side, there is less (no?) switching feet between pedals and less time delay between braking and accelerating (although on the road this is a non-issue - it's a racing benefit only really?)
Just interested in others opinions on this. It may just not be worth learning as the road benefits are minimal and don't outweigh the risks in learning left foot braking in the first place?
R300will said:
The quicker braking isn't a non-issue on the road at all! you will stop much quicker should you really need to in an emergency so where's the downside?
The only way I can see this being beneficial in terms of emergency braking is if you permenantly covered the brake pedal with your left foot, which I doubt many would consider sensible. Otherwise, I'd imagine that the time delay of moving your right foot from accelerator to brake is roughly the same as that of moving your left foot from the dead pedal or floor to the brake, thus negating any time benefits from left foot braking. ^ not to mention that you can pull off a faster emergency stop using Threshold Braking than you can by just hitting the pedal and relying on the ABS. Developing the sensitivity to LFB reasonably well is one thing, developing the sensitivity to threshold brake with the left foot is another completely...
chrisispringles said:
The only way I can see this being beneficial in terms of emergency braking is if you permenantly covered the brake pedal with your left foot, which I doubt many would consider sensible. Otherwise, I'd imagine that the time delay of moving your right foot from accelerator to brake is roughly the same as that of moving your left foot from the dead pedal or floor to the brake, thus negating any time benefits from left foot braking.
Quite, for most cars /drivers there will be little change in reaction time for right or left foot.This is all about preference, proponents of left foot braking have struggled to produce any evidence that it has measurable benefits.
In my E61 the brake is well offset to the right making it easy to get the right foot to it with a swivel of the ankle, but a long travel from the resting position of my left foot so requiring much greater leg movement. I cannot imagine for one second that I would be able to left foot brake more quickly. (Yes I have tried)
HustleRussell said:
^ not to mention that you can pull off a faster emergency stop using Threshold Braking than you can by just hitting the pedal and relying on the ABS. Developing the sensitivity to LFB reasonably well is one thing, developing the sensitivity to threshold brake with the left foot is another completely...
And how do you manage individual control of the brakes as do all modern ABS systems to achieve maximum possible retardation?Glosphil said:
HustleRussell said:
^ not to mention that you can pull off a faster emergency stop using Threshold Braking than you can by just hitting the pedal and relying on the ABS. Developing the sensitivity to LFB reasonably well is one thing, developing the sensitivity to threshold brake with the left foot is another completely...
And how do you manage individual control of the brakes as do all modern ABS systems to achieve maximum possible retardation?
chrisispringles said:
R300will said:
The quicker braking isn't a non-issue on the road at all! you will stop much quicker should you really need to in an emergency so where's the downside?
The only way I can see this being beneficial in terms of emergency braking is if you permenantly covered the brake pedal with your left foot, which I doubt many would consider sensible. Otherwise, I'd imagine that the time delay of moving your right foot from accelerator to brake is roughly the same as that of moving your left foot from the dead pedal or floor to the brake, thus negating any time benefits from left foot braking. Toltec said:
You do not have to cover the pedal at all times to gain a benefit. When approaching a hazard you can cover the brake and maintain a steady speed as appropriate. A specific example is a junction on the left with a car waiting to pull out, at some point you have to decide to continue past them or stop. Covering the brake with your left foot can give you an edge when the other driver goes for a last second pull out.
if I have the slightest doubt in such a situation, I would am off the gas and covering the brake with my right foot.kaf said:
if I have the slightest doubt in such a situation, I would am off the gas and covering the brake with my right foot.
I knew someone would say that. Taken to the extreme this means you must always stop and let them out.
As you are slowing towards the junction the other driver may decide you are letting them out, about to turn into the junction without indicating or dithering so they will go anyway. They would be wrong, but that does not help.
The other consequence is the gap behind you that they may be intending to use closes and they are now stuck there even longer.
It is one of those very marginal techniques that only applies in certain circumstances. It is not worth learning to lfb just to do this, however if you can then I think it can be helpful.
Just as in certain circumstances I will brake using my right foot and swap to my left while maintaining the same braking level. The brake pedal is very wide in the car I do that on. I have done quite a bit of karting and ride bikes where using each extremity to do something different but in synchrony is normal so it feels natural and easy to me.
HustleRussell said:
The car would certainly prefer you to use your right foot only. Your passengers probably would too.
Sitting for a few seconds at junction, waiting for gap in traffic.A) With right foot only. Small gap appears. Off brake, car jerks forwards (some worse/better than others in this regard I admitt), on to throttle, car moves forward again, possibly with slight lurch.
B) With both feet. Blend out of brakes and on to throttle simultaneously. All is smooth.
Which did you say passengers would prefer?
Oh and max of a days practice should see you happily braking with your left foot without slinging people through the screen
My cars are a mix of auto and manual and I never use my right foot to brake in the autos - that would seem most odd - and don't have a problem swapping between cars all the time either. Imagine putting someone who'd never seen or been in a car before and telling then what the two pedals are for. I doubt that their first reaction would be to hop around with one foot!
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