Driving an Auto car

[xtrailman]

Interesting debate on a caravan site I visit.

Debating whether an auto should be driven with one foot or two.
I know you Americans are auto mad so how should they be driven?

 

[fvansan]

Right foot only, for it is a safety factor in that in an emergency when you have to slam on the brak, one doesn't accidentally also slam on the accelerator at the same time.

 

[Tom 6-6]

Same as above- one foot- two feet encourage premature brake wear.

 

[52804x4]

The exact same way I drive a manual. Right foot controls gas and brake.

 

[Dr_Watson]

There is no debate, if someone suggests braking with the left foot, they are trolling! Go try it and you will find out why. There are good reasons to use it, but only in F1 or the likes.

 

[xtrailman]

Thanks everyone.

 

[piotrek91]

I have some experience on this topic.
I was first taught to drive automatics with both feet, but I transitioned to mainly driving them with just my right foot.

There are some advantages to driving with two feet.

1. You can cover the brake while accelerating. Say you have the right of way, but you're unsure if the other driver will respect it. You can accelerate normally while covering the brake allowing you to reduce your reaction time by some 200ms.
2. Less time spent transitioning from brake to gas after slowing for a corner. (quicker lap times.. if you're on a track)
3. Easier to smoothly start on a hill (especially helpful off-road or in slippery conditions)
4. Braking while accelerating to induce over-steer in FWD/AWD car (only useful if you're a rally/race driver)

There are also some disadvantages:

1. You can't properly brace yourself against the dead pedal during spirited driving. This, to me, is the single biggest disadvantage of left foot braking. The race car drivers that left foot brake are strapped in to a harness and do not get flung around, but with a normal seat-belt it's impossible to brake precisely while your whole body weight is getting pushed into the brake pedal.
2. You left knee will start hurting in heavy traffic. The brake pedal is not placed right for the left foot to use it.
3. Some inattentive people will end up "riding the brake", annoying everyone behind them and wearing out their brake pads and possibly cooking their brake fluid.

 

[Cis4]

I don't think it's an either or, just depends on how you learned and what you're comfortable with. As long as you can drive competently, it shouldn't matter.

One of the advantages of two foot driving is that withe one foot dedicated to breaking and another to accelerating, you can reduce/prevent unintentionally pressing the accelerator pedal when trying to slam on the breaks.

http://www.vox.com/2015/7/1/8877583/two-foot-driving-pedal-error

 

[xtrailman]

Thanks everyone.

 

[minnesotaart]

I am glad my CX-5 brakes and doesn't break! (wow)