I would like to endorse you advice in using automatics. In the 1960s I took over my father's automatic Jag, having just sold a manual Mk2. I quickly worked out that two feet was the way to drive it. Later I had no trouble in driving automatics as well as my wife's MG, a 2CV and various other old style cars. In Spain I avoided hitting a jay-walker because I had one foot over the brake. I started in 1938 at 17 but now' at the age of 90, I stick to automatics. I am convinced two feet is best, as borne out by the reported accidents. However, when stopping, one precaution is always to put it in Park. In one sad case locally a grandpa backed his granddaughter into the river because he went back to get his sun glasses, leaving the car ticking over in ‘R’.