Why do autos have a massive brake pedal?

[MondeoMan1981]

Is there any particular reason?

Only driven an auto once and didnt find it neither helpful nor did it get in the way, but you would think manufacturers could save a quid or two by using the same pedal design as a manual.

Is it to potentially encourage the left foot to be used for the brake?

[surrey7er]

I think it's the same logic applied to having big keys on phones for the partially sighted...

[HellDiver]

It's so people used to driving manual cars smash their heads against the steering wheel when they go to dip the clutch approaching a junction.

[Whitean3]

Very simple- the bigger the brake pedal, the more difficult it is to miss when applying the brakes.
Brake pedals on manual cars are smaller because there isn't room to put a huge pedal due to the clutch pedal. THere also needs to be a reasonable distance between clutch and brake pedals to stop clumsy oafs from performing an emergency stop instead of changing gear....