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Why can't I seem to learn to left-foot brake when driving my automatic?

Whilst I understand your passionate desire to spread the left-foot braking technique among drivers of automatics, I fear that the very people that you are aiming to convert will find the change beyond their capability. In my case, I have driven automatics and manual cars for the last 12 years, moving almost daily between the two. Before that I drove manual vehicles, including vans and small lorries for 50 years. The clutch action for the left foot is totally different from the brake action of the right foot. My left foot will never learn to apply brake in the desired smooth fashion. I have experimented on my automatic Mercedes-Benz and always apply too much brake too quickly for safety. My left foot is still applying a clutch. There will be many like myself who are too old to change.

Asked on 20 November 2010 by KF, Fulbrook.

Answered by Honest John
That's fair comment. But it will not stop me trying to educate those willing to learn this lifesaving skill, rather than simply condemn everyone to right foot brake without giving anyone the credit of the possibly ability to learn to left foot brake. Many readers have successfully learned and are far safer (as well as far smoother) drivers as a result.
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