Honest John and Left Foot Braking?
Discussion
Having driven mostly autos for nearly 15 years I would say that left foot braking is something that you would never tell the average driver to do. I'd consider it an advanced performance driving manoeuvre that you'd only want to do on track etc Any auto should be operated with your right foot and your right foot only unless you have skill in modulating your left foot. First time anyone tries left foot braking they nearly go through the windscreen, it's a skill to be learned not anything an everyday driver would need
Edited by hedges88 on Monday 30th September 00:59
DonkeyApple said:
InitialDave said:
In a FWD car, it can be quite handy.
I seem to recall it was the party piece of that Cadillac they tried to sell here? Big V8, FWD and a foot operated handbrake. hedges88 said:
Having driven mostly autos for nearly 15 years I would say that left foot braking is something that you would never tell the average driver to do. I'd consider it an advanced performance driving manoeuvre that you'd only want to do on track etc Any auto should be operated with your right foot and your right foot only unless you have skill in modulating your left foot. First time anyone tries left foot braking they nearly go through the windscreen, it's a skill to be learned not anything an everyday driver would need
Why not? Its easy to adjust to left foot braking. Edited by hedges88 on Monday 30th September 00:59
hedges88 said:
Having driven mostly autos for nearly 15 years I would say that left foot braking is something that you would never tell the average driver to do. I'd consider it an advanced performance driving manoeuvre that you'd only want to do on track etc Any auto should be operated with your right foot and your right foot only unless you have skill in modulating your left foot. First time anyone tries left foot braking they nearly go through the windscreen, it's a skill to be learned not anything an everyday driver would need
I agree. I also think it's the new 'heel and toe' which is also completely unnecessary for everyday driving.Edited by hedges88 on Monday 30th September 00:59
I used to have to left foot brake in my Allegro in the early 90s as it used to cut out at junctions at tickover. On the run up to a junction, it was drop it out of gear, keep right foot on the gas, while stop with my left. Then move left onto the clutch to get into the right gear.
Tricky but I got used to it. i can now left brake quite easily.
Tricky but I got used to it. i can now left brake quite easily.
Taylor James said:
hedges88 said:
Having driven mostly autos for nearly 15 years I would say that left foot braking is something that you would never tell the average driver to do. I'd consider it an advanced performance driving manoeuvre that you'd only want to do on track etc Any auto should be operated with your right foot and your right foot only unless you have skill in modulating your left foot. First time anyone tries left foot braking they nearly go through the windscreen, it's a skill to be learned not anything an everyday driver would need
I agree. I also think it's the new 'heel and toe' which is also completely unnecessary for everyday driving.Edited by hedges88 on Monday 30th September 00:59
borcy said:
yonex said:
H and T is very useful in lightweight cars.
I think perhaps the point is about the general driving population, most don't know h&t even exists. Most don't drive lightweight cars. If people want to do it that's fine, but I don't think it's needed as general driving skill.
t about driving - it is a means of getting from A to B and the car is no more interesting than their fridge.Dangerous? Hit head on windscreen? Confuse gearboxes?
On long drives in cars without cruise control I can rest my right leg by using my left foot on the accelerator.
Now that I can see could be dangerous.
The alternative that I've never tried is a short length of broom handle. The only reason I haven't tried it is because I don't think of it when I'm at Homebase.
On long drives in cars without cruise control I can rest my right leg by using my left foot on the accelerator.
Now that I can see could be dangerous.
The alternative that I've never tried is a short length of broom handle. The only reason I haven't tried it is because I don't think of it when I'm at Homebase.
I also suspect that most of the population shouldn’t be advised to be pressing the throttle and the brake simultaneously. With pretty much all new cars now autos I would hazard that all road users are generally better off if all the bad drivers stick to doing one thing at a time, either braking or on the throttle as it’s probably, overall, the safest way of doing it for all of us.
I can’t help thinking that telling everyone to switch to two feet isn’t going to be massively weaponising the small number of serious idiots that we all have to share the road with and already compensate very heavily for.
I can’t help thinking that telling everyone to switch to two feet isn’t going to be massively weaponising the small number of serious idiots that we all have to share the road with and already compensate very heavily for.
I don't press both pedals simultaneously in automatics.
Right foot for accelerator, left foot for brake.
I do not press both pedals together.
I drive both manuals and automatics. In manuals I brake with my right foot. In automatics I brake with my left foot.
I can also pick up a mug of tea left handed without incident.
Right foot for accelerator, left foot for brake.
I do not press both pedals together.
I drive both manuals and automatics. In manuals I brake with my right foot. In automatics I brake with my left foot.
I can also pick up a mug of tea left handed without incident.
Years back a pal of mine had a broken right leg so drove his automatic with his left leg for the brake and a walking stick for the accelerater using his right hand. He was very good at it and after he recovered he just carried on but just his right foot for the right pedal.
He Allways kept his stick handy mind,just in case his leg got tired.
He Allways kept his stick handy mind,just in case his leg got tired.
magooagain said:
Years back a pal of mine had a broken right leg so drove his automatic with his left leg for the brake and a walking stick for the accelerater using his right hand. He was very good at it and after he recovered he just carried on but just his right foot for the right pedal.
He Allways kept his stick handy mind,just in case his leg got tired.
He Allways kept his stick handy mind,just in case his leg got tired.
magooagain said:
Years back a pal of mine had a broken right leg so drove his automatic with his left leg for the brake and a walking stick for the accelerater using his right hand. He was very good at it and after he recovered he just carried on but just his right foot for the right pedal.
He Allways kept his stick handy mind,just in case his leg got tired.
Someone I used to know had his right leg amputated so had the throttle of his automatic car moved to the left of the brake pedal. He got used to driving it just fine with his left foot only. All was well until he took the car in for new tyres, he explained about the pedals but the guys at Kwik Fit wouldn’t let him drive it onto the ramp himself. Inevitably the Kwik Fit Fitter drove it into the wall. He Allways kept his stick handy mind,just in case his leg got tired.
DickyC said:
I don't press both pedals simultaneously in automatics.
Right foot for accelerator, left foot for brake.
I do not press both pedals together.
I drive both manuals and automatics. In manuals I brake with my right foot. In automatics I brake with my left foot.
I can also pick up a mug of tea left handed without incident.
Is it possible Dicky, that you aren’t a moron though?Right foot for accelerator, left foot for brake.
I do not press both pedals together.
I drive both manuals and automatics. In manuals I brake with my right foot. In automatics I brake with my left foot.
I can also pick up a mug of tea left handed without incident.
DonkeyApple said:
Is it possible Dicky, that you aren’t a moron though?
That's kind of you, DA. There are those who... yes, well, anyway. My concern is that many in the anti-LFB brigade are more hostile to it than the technique deserves. (Technique! What am I saying?) It's just horses for courses. If you can do it, it's fine. If you can't, don't.
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