Left foot braking

[Vipers]

Reading a motoring section in the Saturday papers, one readers lettersaid "I have been driving automatic cars for over 30 years and have found your advice to left foot brake to be a great advantage etc etc"

Do tell me, do anyone of you guys with auto's use your left foot for braking? seems most odd to me.

[Fartgalen]

With an automatic ? Yes. All the time.

[Maxf]

Once in an auto I went to use the clutch and inadvertently left foot braked. I'm amazed my teeth weren't left in the steering wheel!

/schoolboy error.

[shirt]

yes.

only had the one auto. it was bad enough my left hand having nothing to do, so I started left foot braking. doubt I'll buy another auto out of choice.

[Mikeyboy]

Maxf said:

Once in an auto I went to use the clutch and inadvertently left foot braked. I'm amazed my teeth weren't left in the steering wheel!

/schoolboy error.

did that in a hire car the one time I've driven an auto. very embarassing

[Laurel Green]

Never, well not under normal driving.

[onlynik]

No not normally. Just use my right foot.

[captainzep]

I'm not religious. But isn't there something in the Bible (poss Old Testament) about the inherent laziness of manual gear changing avoidance? Left foot braking in this context is a sin unless you're Finnish amongst the 1000 lakes in a Mk 2 Escort/Saab 99.

[davido140]

just cant do it.. its either on or off, no in between.... must have a lead filled left foot as well as a lead filled right foot!

[Mobile Chicane]

Your left foot is a blunt instrument compared with your right one. Plus the fact that most modern brakes are so over-servoed that the slightest dab will result in a screeching halt and clouds of tyre smoke.

(Or at least that's what normally happens to me.)

Yeah, yeah, I know.

[Vipers]

Interesting responses guys, learn something every day. Think I will stick to the tried and tested method of right foot stop and go, left foot, ziltch.

[V8mate]

I left-foot brake my auto. I started it to train my left foot to not just be a weight to punch down a clutch. Would be interested to know why it's considered to be good practice when auto-driving though.

[Doobs]

I think the context of left foot braking advice is to do with being stationary at lights (hill starts), and not trying to knock of 20 mph in a NSL as you enter and adverse camber bend! Could be wrong here as I don't know what the advice in the OP was to do with, but I know there is sometimes discussion about how autos hold differently when no brake or throttle is applied.

[Mobile Chicane]

Vipers said:

Interesting responses guys, learn something every day. Think I will stick to the tried and tested method of right foot stop and go, left foot, ziltch.

If anyone up near you offers airfield car control courses (where nothing can go wrong), I'd opt for one of these.

I've done a few days at www.carlimits.com and would highly recommend this approach.

[J T]

I doubt there is any benefit to the average driver left foot braking on the road. Even once you train your foot to tread lightly, I have found that it is still much harder to use than your right one. When I practised I often found myself trailing the brakes into corners because I was busy trying to control the brake pressure, and generally forgetting about releasing them before turning in. The problem is that you are conciously having to think about it, whereas with your right foot you aren't. I certainly would not say it is safer than using your right foot, but then I am no advanced driving instructor.

[shirt]

there's no thinking involved imo, its rather like driving a go kart.

there is no benefit on the road, if you find yourself needing a couple of milliseconds extra braking then I wouldn't want a lift from you!

[RDMcG]

Never, because I routinely switch between auto and manual cars. Easiest to avoid left foot , and that way the action is reflexive for me.

[NDA]

I don't think an auto really needs you to left foot brake, but in something like the Vanquish (which is a sort of clutchless manual box) you need to left foot brake on hills as there's no torque converter and you'll roll backwards in first....

[Pigeon]

OK, I think it's now pretty clear from this thread's continued existence in Teh Nogule rather than being moved to GG that the mods aren't about tonight

I drive an auto the same as a manual but without the clutch - ie. left foot does nothing.

(Unless I'm playing SBs and going for a quick launch - which I have done about twice )

[Vipers]

Doobs said:

I think the context of left foot braking advice is to do with being stationary at lights (hill starts), and not trying to knock of 20 mph in a NSL as you enter and adverse camber bend! Could be wrong here as I don't know what the advice in the OP was to do with, but I know there is sometimes discussion about how autos hold differently when no brake or throttle is applied.

I know what you mean about hills, personally I leave it in "D", with handbrake on, lights change, off handbrake, accelerate away smoothly, talking about handbraks, I was always taught, "In ratchet, pull up handbrake, ratchet out", not click click click click click.....

Interesting points so far, but don't think I will try it, unless as Mobile Chicane said, if you offered a chance on an airfield.