Honest John and Left Foot Braking?
Discussion
JimSuperSix said:
It can be demonstrated that it does reduce stopping distances, and that's a very large positive in situations where stopping distances matter.
I can LFB in an Auto. I used to regularly LFB in manuals. I really don't mind what people do. It's over simplifying to say it "does" reduce stopping distance. It may do in the situation where the left is covering the brake, whilst the right is on the accelerator. This supposes that all other things are equal, which they may not be given how ingrained RFB may be and it still needing to be available for manual cars, column cars etc with accelerator brake to the right or autos where it's damaging to the box. In tests about the best TOTAL recognition and reaction time is just under. 3 seconds, so it's stretching it to suggest there is anything like the extra delay being posited.
However,
In most braking scenarios, either the right foot would also be over the brake pedal or whichever foot will need to move laterally so, in the majority of circumstances, it's likely to be the same or even longer for right leg dominant people.
This also ignores any delay that could come from the extra requirement arising from making a choice of action, depending on what kind of car being driven.
if he plays with himself left or right handed 
.It's as I said earlier, HJ is talking about manoeuvring, not going out and driving like Stig Blomqvist, is actually advising that people should only do it if confident after practice, and actually advising some not to do it, maybe even not buying an auto in the first place.
There is no mention of going out and driving like some superhero, or cutting the lap time round Sainsbury's car park. Shakeshead.
It's a rare occasion that I defend HJ, mainly due to some history, plus reckoning he can can be a bit of a knob at times, can't we all, but in this case no horses
t on that piece, the only nag effluent is on this thread, mainly, though not totally, from the determinedly anti LFB contingent.
There is no mention of going out and driving like some superhero, or cutting the lap time round Sainsbury's car park. Shakeshead.
It's a rare occasion that I defend HJ, mainly due to some history, plus reckoning he can can be a bit of a knob at times, can't we all, but in this case no horses
t on that piece, the only nag effluent is on this thread, mainly, though not totally, from the determinedly anti LFB contingent. Scrump said:
So none thenlol
Graveworm said:
JimSuperSix said:
It can be demonstrated that it does reduce stopping distances, and that's a very large positive in situations where stopping distances matter.
I can LFB in an Auto. I used to regularly LFB in manuals. I really don't mind what people do. It's over simplifying to say it "does" reduce stopping distance. It may do in the situation where the left is covering the brake, whilst the right is on the accelerator. This supposes that all other things are equal, which they may not be given how ingrained RFB may be and it still needing to be available for manual cars, column cars etc with accelerator brake to the right or autos where it's damaging to the box. In tests about the best TOTAL recognition and reaction time is just under. 3 seconds, so it's stretching it to suggest there is anything like the extra delay being posited.
However,
In most braking scenarios, either the right foot would also be over the brake pedal or whichever foot will need to move laterally so, in the majority of circumstances, it's likely to be the same or even longer for right leg dominant people.
This also ignores any delay that could come from the extra requirement arising from making a choice of action, depending on what kind of car being driven.
It's not accurate to say "In most braking scenarios, either the right foot would also be over the brake pedal" because in most suprise emergency situations the right foot will typically be on the throttle until the sudden need to brake becomes apparent. At which point there is the added delay of moving that foot over to the other pedal.
If you drive along with the left foot on the footrest and the right foot on the throttle, then yes in that situation it will make no difference which foot you use as you will have to move it onto the brake pedal.
I prefer to reduce my overall risk wherever sensibly possible.
The delay from choice of action isn't really there, as you learn to LFB naturally just as you once learned to RFB.
NewUsername said:
Scrump said:
So none thenlol
JimSuperSix said:
As said before I keep my left foot over the brake pedal in areas where there is a higher possibility of needing to brake suddenly, so in my case my foot is correctly positioned to press the pedal as soon as I can react. I am guessing that a lot of other people do the same.
It's not accurate to say "In most braking scenarios, either the right foot would also be over the brake pedal"
The delay from choice of action isn't really there, as you learn to LFB naturally just as you once learned to RFB.
Yes but in most surprise situations the left foot isn't over the pedal. It may be in a few, in an auto the right foot is covering the brake pedal in a lot of the circumstances where there is a higher possibility just as you do with your left. It's not accurate to say "In most braking scenarios, either the right foot would also be over the brake pedal"
The delay from choice of action isn't really there, as you learn to LFB naturally just as you once learned to RFB.
You can't know whether there is a delay from choice of action unless you only ever drive autos where LFB is appropriate or possible. Otherwise subconsciously or otherwise a choice is being made and its also possible that one leg works faster and better than the other. Try the ruler reaction test, with people's dominant and non dominant hand to get a clearer picture of the difference.
I can do both I can see no clear advantage for either.
Edited by Graveworm on Monday 7th October 17:46
JimSuperSix said:
Sorry but you're wrong - when most surprise emergency situations arise the right foot will be on the throttle.
Yes and the left on the footrest. I said there are a few occasions where your scenario happens, but if I think I don't know enough. to be confident that I won't need to brake, I take my foot off the gas and at a minimum cover the brake. Edited by Graveworm on Monday 7th October 17:54
NewUsername said:
JimSuperSix said:
Taylor James said:
It gets quite funny when people start justifying it for balancing the car or reducing stopping distances
It can be demonstrated that it does reduce stopping distances, and that's a very large positive in situations where stopping distances matter.Toltec said:
Pretty simple. Move your foot from the accelerator to the brake and back twenty times and time it. Divide by forty and that is the time you save. As I mentioned above in a modern car this will almost certainly trigger the emergency brake assist, though that isn't always a good thing.
So you constantly drive with your left foot hovering over the brake, otherwise you are adding a delay equal to or probably slightly greater, in those situations. 
Graveworm said:
Toltec said:
Pretty simple. Move your foot from the accelerator to the brake and back twenty times and time it. Divide by forty and that is the time you save. As I mentioned above in a modern car this will almost certainly trigger the emergency brake assist, though that isn't always a good thing.
So you constantly drive with your left foot hovering over the brake, otherwise you are adding a delay equal to or probably slightly greater, in those situations. JimSuperSix said:
I've said over and over, left foot over the brake pedal in situations most likely to need it.
And I've said right foot over as a minimum, if I am not sure I won't need to brake. That way I am going slower and the car is better balanced as well. These days, in most real emergencies, the car reacts faster than any human anyway, so the slower speed is the more important factor.
Edited by Graveworm on Monday 7th October 18:34
Graveworm said:
JimSuperSix said:
I've said over and over, left foot over the brake pedal in situations most likely to need it.
And I've said right foot over as a minimum, if I am not sure I won't need to brake. That way I am going slower and the car is better balanced as well. These days, in most real emergencies, the car reacts faster than any human anyway, so the slower speed is the more important factor.
Edited by Graveworm on Monday 7th October 18:34
I should add that I right foot brake in my manual car.
DoubleD said:
The problem is, at some point you will need to move your right foot off the brake and to the accelerator or you will eventually come to a stop. This isnt something that someone who left foot brakes will need to do.
I should add that I right foot brake in my manual car.
True that if it ever arises. I should add that I right foot brake in my manual car.
As I said I can do both and there is no clear advantage for either.
Graveworm said:
DoubleD said:
The problem is, at some point you will need to move your right foot off the brake and to the accelerator or you will eventually come to a stop. This isnt something that someone who left foot brakes will need to do.
I should add that I right foot brake in my manual car.
True that if that ever arises. I should add that I right foot brake in my manual car.
As I said I can do both and there is no clear advantage for either.
DoubleD said:
Well I guess there is an advantage(a small one) that you can permanently cover the brake, you cant do that if you right foot brake.
I could if I wanted to but even then I could still right foot brake all the other times and it would be a very awkward driving position, in most cars, where potential cramp would cause some issues. Of course, it ignores all the other examples, when it's possibly not the best thing to do or that the advantage is not so clear cut for right leg dominant people. In a manual, do you think the right foot hits the brake slower or quicker than than the left leg gets to the clutch?
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