Driving an automatic - do you use one foot or both?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Driving an automatic - do you use one foot or both?

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Awrrr
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#1869493 20-Sep-2017 15:26

I agree with the above two posts. I just don't agree that left foot braking is an issue if the driver has trained to do it and does it properly.

Edit: Damn, someone else keeps sneaking in. I meant I agree with the two posts above the preceding one.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Phexx

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#1869494 20-Sep-2017 15:26

One foot. I didn't realise the number of people who use two feet!

The only time I use my left foot to brake is when I'm racing on the track, all other times the right foot is the only foot touching the brake pedal.

I recall watching a video of a driver training course in the UK on an airfield where the student driver caused a crash at high speed due to them thinking they pressed the brake pedal, when they were actually pressing the clutch. I'll see if I can find it later.

I can't see any real benefits to using both feet to drive (an auto). There aren't any situations that you'd need to use both the brake and the throttle at the same time on a public road. I don't have any issues hill starting or backing up a driveway with one foot, and I'm sure I've been driving for less time than those who claim they're unable to. Not to mention the possibility of accidentally riding the brakes (same reason you're not supposed to keep your foot on the clutch).

"there's no other way to properly control a car if your one foot has to keep hopping from accelerator to brake" - I'm very concerned if you're unable to keep proper control of your car without using both feet on the pedals!

Oblivian

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#1869508 20-Sep-2017 15:32

2 if I was being a super hoon and pre-loading the body roll before cornering and keeping it from doing its own gear decisions mid corner.

Then you get a late model Hyundai - Where the gas pedal is electronic feedback, and when you attempt to hit the brake, it cuts power and causes all sorts of brake ratio issues...

enfield

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#1869539 20-Sep-2017 16:11

One foot.I started out driving manual cars and one foot seemed like a natural transition into driving automatics.

kryptonjohn

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#1869540 20-Sep-2017 16:12

Rikkitic:

I agree with the above two posts. I just don't agree that left foot braking is an issue if the driver has trained to do it and does it properly.

Edit: Damn, someone else keeps sneaking in. I meant I agree with the two posts above the preceding one.

That gets me every time I *don't* use the quote feature! ;-)

nzlegs

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#1869549 20-Sep-2017 16:18

I was primarily a manual car driver, however due to an unfortunate circumstance I broke my left ankle and was thereby forced to start driving automatic vehicles. Work (employer) even got me a rental.

So I would guess that therfore I only use one foot for driving.

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robjg63

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#1869587 20-Sep-2017 17:20

You would be surprised at how often people who use 'two' feet in an automatic have planted both feet on the pedals in an emergency and made the problem a whole lot worse.

Train yourself to use only one....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

MikeAqua

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#1869707 20-Sep-2017 19:53

If I was competing in a rally in an auto I would use two feet.

But I'm not so I use one foot. In the Mazda 3 one hand on the wheel and one hand on the handbrake for hills etc.

In the diesel, I just use my right foot and engine torque for hills etc. The accelerator will hold it stationary against the boat and trailer (2,500kg) on a moderate slope

Mike

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#1869710 20-Sep-2017 19:54

To brake really hard in an emergency you need to brace with your left foot and push yourself back into the seat for maximum leverage. You can stop from 60kms several meters sooner than if you didn't brace yourself. Driving schools teach that even in manual cars - stalling is good in that situation as it stops the car faster.

andrewNZ

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#1869716 20-Sep-2017 20:03

The first and only time I tried to use the clutch foot to brake, as I approached a gentle bend I applied gentle braking, the small dog on the passenger seat piled face first into the dashboard, then landed in a heap in the footwell.

I thought I was being clever swapping feet on a long drive, the dog quite clearly thought otherwise.

nakedmolerat

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#1869812 20-Sep-2017 21:23

@kryptonjohn:
Heh! I think I'm OCD about it. Can't bear to be driven by my wife on a long trip as she constantly pumps the brake pedal.

Every.

Bloody.

Corner.

But I daren't say anything!

OMG! Keep her off the road pkease!!!!!

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kryptonjohn

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#1869823 20-Sep-2017 21:40

Doing my best, NMR, doing my best...

Bung

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#1869869 20-Sep-2017 23:46

If you don't want to risk saying anything try triggering something like this on your phone at the appropriate times

https://www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/compact-car-brake-hard.html

Carry suitable wound dressings in case you get caught :-)

dickytim

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#1869889 21-Sep-2017 06:15

geekIT:

After 60-odd years of driving - most of them automatic cars - I find it almost impossible to drive an automatic using only one foot.

(In NZ, of course, it's the right foot.)

So I use both feet. IMHO, there's no other way to properly control a car if your one foot has to keep hopping from accelerator to brake. For example, backing up a steep, narrow driveway, especially with a loaded trailer. Motorway driving, bumper-to-bumper. Slotting into a sloping, supermarket carpark.

(Ever noticed that most large carparks have their spaces oriented across the slope and not up and down? That's to minimize the mayhem)

So, what's your method? One foot or both?

[Mod edit |Stu| Moved to correct sub-forum.]

Are you the one that rests your foot on the break pedal lighting up the brake lights when accelerating! (I am being facetious)

Definitely a one foot driver, I always have been but I was taught in a manual and the correct way.

I have never had an issue with my automatic car rolling back and needing to use both at once. Maybe your trans needs looking at.

I do think you'll find the car parks are orientated that way for drainage.

BTW I have never had an accident caused by me not braking soon enough and I drive from Pukekohe to Parnell every day.

kingdragonfly

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#1869904 21-Sep-2017 07:21

Since electric cars are very "torquey", when the you press the accelerator hard, like when you mistake the pedals, you get instant acceleration with very little sound; No waiting/hearing the petrol engine spin up.

https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/7/11876794/tesla-model-x-crash-unintended-acceleration

"Tesla Model X crashes into building, owner blames everything but the driver"

"Puzant Ozbag owns a Model X and he says his car 'suddenly and unexpectedly' accelerated 'on its own' to crash into a building while his wife was driving. That's not a good thing, especially for Tesla, which has seen a number of owners report that their cars crashed all on their own, blaming the various semi-autonomous features for their accidents.

...the Tesla Model X in question, rather than accelerating into a building autonomously (which would have made for great clickbait), was told to drive into the building.

'Data shows that the vehicle was traveling at 6 mph when the accelerator pedal was abruptly increased to 100 percent,' said Tesla in a statement to The Verge. 'Consistent with the driver’s actions, the vehicle applied torque and accelerated as instructed.' Ozbag told Computerworld that his wife was not 'a 90-year-old person who's going to press the gas pedal instead of the brake.'"

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