Jason brought up left foot braking in my caravan post, and it made me wonder how many left foot brakers there are out there when driving an automatic, (I am one) I guess I got it from driving a standard for years, just have to do something with that left foot when driving an auto. anyone else?

 

Yep, left foot here and I can guarantee that the left foot doesn't rule the right one, lol. To my expense from time to time I might add.

 

its a bad idea and just plain sloppy driving.

 

well lets not get personal now,lol us left foot drivers are people too you know! but my wife would agree with you

 

My grandad used to do that, he'd be on full gas or full brake, or a little of both. It was a jerky ride riding with him. Got to admit he had a really good driving record though, he used to commute over 100 miles a day depending on where the jobsite was.

 

once in a while when im driving my wifes car i will be putting down the road and right before the car shifts (automatic) i will jam on the brakes with my left foot and not realize what im doing until its too late. both of my cars are standard so i try to stay away from my wifes car as much as possible. i feel inferior when i drive it. my dad has owned automatics all his life and uses both feet to drive.

 

Please elaborate, there's a lot of us "sloppy" drivers out here curious as to the factual basis for your statement.
Dono

 

left foot braker here. using your left foot to cover the brake can quicken response time, at least thats my theory

 

Well, I'm a left-foot braker. I think it all started back in my younger days while driving my old hot-rod Plymouth. You know, big motor, wild cam, lopey idle Had to use two feet to keep it running. What's really weird is when I drive a stick-shift even now I don't have a problem hitting the brake pedal with my right foot...seems like I should have.

 

I am a newer driver(kind of), so even though I drive sticks all the time, I still can remember to drive with 1 foot in auto. My dad drives 1 foot, even though all but 1 car is stick. My g'pa dives 2 footed, but that is probably better at the speeds he dives. lol. He is the exact opposite of the steryotypical ''old man" driver

 

yeh doesn't feel wierd using that right foot to brake with a standard but fells wierd to me using the right foot on an auto, go figure

 

My dear old dad is a left-foot braker. He drives down the road with the brake lights lit. He has diabetes and says that he can't 'feel' the pedal unless he has a little pressure on it.

(I'll say one thing for him. With his brake lights lit, NO-ONE tailgates him!!!)

Me. . . right foot. Too many years driving a stick. I used to get into a vehicle with an automatic, and from habit, shove my left foot on the brake and push like it was a clutch! Why won't the clutch go down!?!?!?!? (Old habits die hard.)

 

I use my left....from driving a standard transmission all my early years. When I have to panic stop though....I use both feet. I wouldn't call us lefty's sloppy drivers though.

 

In normal driving I always use my right foot. If I am in an automatic in a real tight place or something I will use my left foot on brake and right on gas.

Stephen

 

I don't like left foot braking because I feel like you don't have as good a control of the brakes that way. I am talking about normal driving, not racing. Even with a seat belt on, when you put on the brakes with your left foot, you don't have anything to brace yourself against to resist sliding forwards. That makes you put the brakes on harder; then you slide forwards some more; that makes you put the brakes on harder.... . I wound up about standing a car on its nose that way; good thing there wasn't anyone behind me. The car had touchy power brakes, slick seatcovers, and no seatbelts.

When my father for the first time got a car with automatic transmission, he discovered left foot braking. We went on a trip where both of us took turns driving. Later my mother commented that when I drove (mountainous, curvy roads), I drove more smoothly than my dad. I think that was the reason.

Brady