It amazes me when I read the number of letters you receive querying the use of the left foot on automatics. The surge caused by a fuelling problem you have talked about has happened to me twice. Once at a crowded fuel filling station with a manual car when I quickly used the clutch.

The other time it happened was with an automatic fortunately I always start up with my left foot on the brake. Following a hip operation the use of the left foot on our automatic has been very beneficial. I bet all those who have queried it have never suffered a 'surge', which is quite frightening when you have just started up.

Still it proves that many drivers who write up to you are either superior drivers in their eyes or idiots who never take any advice. I have driven and qualified on four classes of vehicles and over the years have driven countless thousands of miles and many of those on long distance journeys. I am still only an average driver in my eyes.