With regard to using your left foot to brake an automatic, this will probably only work if someone uses the method from their introduction to driving and never drives anything but an auto. Otherwise, it'll only cause confusion. For instance, I was taught to drive in an era when "when in doubt, both feet out" i.e. left foot on clutch, right foot on brake, was the maxim. I drive both an automatic (Picasso C4) most of the time, and a manual Mondeo some of the time. Using my left foot for the clutch only, and my right foot for accelerating/braking seems logical. I would not like to change my pedalling style from one car to the other. I get confused on occasions in the Mondeo when it comes to changing down (thinking it's going to do it for me), so imagine trying to remember which foot to use when split second reacting. In the auto, I tuck my left leg out of the way to avoid temptation. Finally, you say that most runaway accidents are caused in autos by pressing the accelerator instead of the brake- well if someone is so oblivious to their cars movement to do this, they could do the same in a manual.