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Foot lose
Regarding left foot braking of automatics, my first licence was obtained in 1939 on two wheels, then in 1940 on four. Then the next
30 years of manual followed by 20 years of manual and autos and the final 20 years all auto. During the last few years I have experimented with left foot breaking when driving when there has been no other traffic about, but found I would be an accident waiting to happen. At the present time I am driving a RAV-4 and find that to reach the brake with my left foot I have to sit in such a way that I that every muscle is in pain in a few moments. Horses for courses I suppose. Whatever suits you best. That said, some 40 years ago a friend’s father purchased a new Jaguar automatic. When he was endeavouring to manoeuvre it into the garage with his wife at the back of the garage to guide him in, he killed his wife wrecked the wall and made a mess of the car. So I take your point.
30 years of manual followed by 20 years of manual and autos and the final 20 years all auto. During the last few years I have experimented with left foot breaking when driving when there has been no other traffic about, but found I would be an accident waiting to happen. At the present time I am driving a RAV-4 and find that to reach the brake with my left foot I have to sit in such a way that I that every muscle is in pain in a few moments. Horses for courses I suppose. Whatever suits you best. That said, some 40 years ago a friend’s father purchased a new Jaguar automatic. When he was endeavouring to manoeuvre it into the garage with his wife at the back of the garage to guide him in, he killed his wife wrecked the wall and made a mess of the car. So I take your point.
Asked on 7 August 2010 by GC, Benfleet
Answered by
Honest John
More on this at: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/driving-automatics-safely You may not be able to left foot brake out on the open road. But you can at least left foot brake when manoeuvring your automatic when
this is actually the only way to remain in full control of the car. In some wet braking tests conducted by Michelin at ADAC in Germany I consistently stopped 10% - 15% shorter from 80kmh to 10kmh by left foot braking than by right foot braking
this is actually the only way to remain in full control of the car. In some wet braking tests conducted by Michelin at ADAC in Germany I consistently stopped 10% - 15% shorter from 80kmh to 10kmh by left foot braking than by right foot braking
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