automatics...... braking - barney100

I am unconvinced by the left foot braking technique on autos. i have been driving autos for many years and have tried the left foot but i feel it is far less controlable than the right foot. A bit of research on the net has found that many people don't feel comfortable with it. In fact three American states will ban or otherwise punish anyone found doing it. any auto drivers got views on this?

automatics...... braking - ForumNeedsModerating

I'm similarly unconvinced. My fundamental objection to the 'technique' is that braking modulation (and to some extent accelerator modulation too) requires a fixed non-moving body/leg/foot for proper control - the two 'floating' feet (as when having a the left foot poised on or over the brake) doesn't allow this.

The effect, in my view, of not having a fixed or braced lower body is less control, or even danger in some circumstances.

The pro-LFBers always seem to come back with the jibe that to gainsay LFB shows lack or inability in technique - I would say 'mastering' a poor (conceptual) technique such as LFB is like trumpeting the ability to do mirror writing & accusing others who demure on the grounds of practicability or utility.

Good automatic driving, again in my view, more subtlety & finesse - for example, reversing only on idle-speed power & feathering the throttle in anticipation in tight urban environments so the right foot is more easily move to brake etc.

To replicate the body-bracing effect in LFB requires two distinct movements - move foot from accelerator to bulkhead/footrest & brake with left foot - much more difficult & prone to inaccuracy/error.

automatics...... braking - Collos25

If everybody had to change to left foot braking the number of accidents that would happen would be enormous.Banned in certain states in America and rightly so, I mentioned it to a police driving instructor here in Germany when it was first muted in the DT and he just laughed and said only the British could come up with something so dangerous.

automatics...... braking - injection doc
left foot braking is dangerous, it also confuses the engine ECU on modern autos and if you hold the brake with the left foot and hit the throttle with the right you would normally loose power as the engine ECu shuts down because it still thinks your braking.
automatics...... braking - barney100

I had a try with my left foot when stationery to se how it felt. On Swmbo's Volvo the accelerator and brake pedal are so placed as to make the right foot's sole flat against the pedal. the left foot is at an angle and only the side of the sole touches the pedal. also the left leg is at an angle. I won't be trying left foot braking on the move.

automatics...... braking - Dave^^

What's wrong with this:

For normal driving, use right foot only for both brake & accelerator, just like a manual.

For slow speed manoeuvres like parking, have the left foot covering/using the brake, right foot on the gas.

This way, it replicates driving in a manual:

i.e. for slow speeds, the left foot pressing down means slow/stop, same as pressing on a clutch with the left foot, with right foot on the gas only.

Normal driving is also the same as manual, except the left foot doesn't have to operate the clutch.

That's what I use when I reverse into the garage or any other slow speed manoeuvre: with the left foot covering the brake pedal there's instant response available if something happens.

What I don't feel comfortable with however is left foot braking when driving normally at speed, I'd probably send myself through the windscreen!

So I'm guessing that those who object to left-foot braking are referring to using it when driving it at speed when it would be unnatural, especially if you're used to a manual.

That shouldn't prevent its use at slow speeds like parking, which is where many of these accidents happen.

automatics...... braking - fredthefifth

I tried it once when it was quiet. I found that I braked far too hard.

automatics...... braking - ex-Triumph man

Very well put. I am sure HJ himself could not have spelt it out better.

automatics...... braking - Sofa Spud

If you learn to drive on an automatic car, so that you're only licenced to drive autos and only ever intend to drive autos, then left-foot braking would be OK. In the USA and Canada, at one time, 80% of cars were automatic and most drivers never drove manuals.

But if you EVER intend to drive manual cars, then Always use right foot braking in an auto!!!

automatics...... braking - Avant

This will always be a personal choice: there isn't a right or wrong way. Butb heaven preserve us from any legislation on the subject!

HJ advocates LFB - one reason being that people are less likely to tread on the accelerator instead of the brake, as has happened with some drivers of automatics.

I personally don't think LFB is a good idea if you also regularly drive a manual. But if you only drive automatics it needn't be dangerous provided you are used to it.

automatics...... braking - Kiwi Gary

In the past I have comfortably braked left-footed, but that was in a Mini auto, and a Datsun 260C, both of which had the brake pedal moved to the left and I was able to brake without having to reach across, so to speak. In the modern autos, I find that I have to get partly sideways to get my leg square-on to the brake pedal, so have given it away for comfort and accuracy reasons. When I did do it, I found it very useful in slow-moving traffic when lane-indiscipline was rife.

automatics...... braking - Sofa Spud

A lot of people had to make the change from left-foot braking to right-foot about 50 years ago.

London's electric trolleybuses, having a single-speed transmission and no clutch, just had an accelerator and brake, with one pedal each side of the steering column. So the drivers used right foot on accelerator, left foot on brakes.

The Routemaster bus was designed to replace London's trolleybuses, and so came with a fully automatic gearbox to make driver transition easier - but both pedals to the right of the steering column, making left-foot braking difficult.

Note: Some later Routemasters were semi-automatic - basically the auto gearbox minus the automated gear changes!

Edited by Sofa Spud on 14/11/2010 at 11:43

automatics...... braking - Honestjohn

Some drivers condemn left foot braking on the basis of their own lack of coordination, entirely forgetting that other drivers are much more coordinated than they are.

But if you don't left foot brake while manoeuvring you do not have full control of your car and stand quite a high chance of killing a spouse, child or grandchiled.

About 100 people are killed that wy evey year. And guess what? The drivers who killed them almost invariably blame their cars.

HJ

automatics...... braking - Collos25

And if we were to change like you prescribe there would be probably 10,000 deaths and people will blame you for your given advice.

automatics...... braking - injection doc

Some years ago I t-boned a car that was approaching a main road from a side turning and he was obviously going to pull out then realised he couldn't as I was approaching and pressed both pedals on a landcrab 2.2 and shot out in front of me taking the front off the car and continuing across the road and demolished a garden and a house! the engine had more grunt than the brakes!

the car was an Auto and yes he had left foot on brake and right foot on the throttle and the sudden reaction confused himcasuing a nasty accident! he did admit he caused it by having both feet on both pedals! this is often seen on petrol forcourts with people manovering and off they go into a building !

For me i consider LFB dangerous !

automatics...... braking - Honestjohn

The Land Crab driver went for the brake with his right foot and hit the accelerator instead. If he had been left foot braking the car would not have come out of the side road.

HJ

automatics...... braking - injection doc
Nope sorry he went for both pedals with both feet and infact it left skid marks across the road because he pressed the brake pedal so hard the rears actually locked whilst the engine power still managed to overide the braking capability and across the road he went! he even admitted to having both feet on both pedals and normal reaction was to press the brake pedal with his right foot as hard as possible but obviously he was still on the gas! with his left foot on the brake.
When the police arrived they thought he had been doing 70+ out of the side turning going by the skid marks and the demolition job!
automatics...... braking - ForumNeedsModerating

"Some drivers condemn left foot braking on the basis of their own lack of coordination, entirely forgetting that other drivers are much more coordinated than they are."

If 'proper' left foot braking requires such a high level of skill, perhaps it should be left to rally/stunt drivers & not be recommended to the general public then?

" But if you don't left foot brake while manoeuvring you do not have full control of your car and stand quite a high chance of killing a spouse, child or grandchiled. "

But to quote (slightly!) - some drivers condemn right foot braking on the basis of their own lack of co-ordination entirely forgetting that other drivers are much more co-ordinated than they are - at manoeuvring with their right foot on the brake & using idle creep when reversing - i.e. the safest way to reverse an auto, especially in confined spaces.

"About 100 people are killed that way every year. And guess what? The drivers who killed them almost invariably blame their cars."

But how many would be killed (if those figures are correct) using the much more difficult technique of left foot braking in those circumstances? Or indeed, how do we know some of the above weren't using left foot braking at the time? Or how many would have happened whatever the technique used (in auto or manual) & were simply accidents of temperament & ability & not driving 'technique' employed?

automatics...... braking - injection doc

I have to admit there are one or two cars by design that need two foot driving whilst manovering! My passat high line DSG, what a poor box when reversing, needed revs just to inch it back wards and the later GM boxes in the Meriva etc , ah horrid for parking !

automatics...... braking - ForumNeedsModerating

Yes, I agree injection doc - the idle creep only works well for slush-box type autos when reversing. Any auto box without a torque converter usually needs accelerator input, so LFB can have its uses there.

automatics...... braking - Shaz {p}

I'am with HJ on this one. We used to have an auto (main family car), and I also had a manual, and honestly did not have any issues with LFB on the auto, or changing back to manual in my own car. It felt more natural to LFB in the auto car for me anyway, and I was in total control.

I have seen as a car go through a shop window whist the driver was trying to park opposite. Drive had got confused and hit the accelerator instead of the brake - using his right foot.

automatics...... braking - Dutchie

I have to disagree with you regarding left foot braking in a automatic car HJ.I tried in the honda jazz we had and in my case the tendency is to brake to hard.In a car with gear change you use the right foot for braking same as in a auto.I visited various forums british and continental and nowhere is advocated left foot braking in a automatic car.I think there is a right way driving a automatic car and braking use your right foot.The advice giving using left foot for braking for the majority of drivers in a automatic car is in my opinion not safe.