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Why do you suggest left-foot braking for drivers of automatic cars?
I have followed with interest your views on left-foot braking as being the safe way to control a vehicle, and I cannot understand why! Having driven autos for many years, I decided to try out your method as an experiment and realised straight away that it was more dangerous than helpful. I can imagine that many elderly drivers (or stupid ones) will instinctively put their left foot on the brake but forget to take their right foot off the gas pedal, resulting in potential insurance claims etc. The act of braking with your right foot at least reduces the engine speed whilst stopping the car safely. I am not elderly or stupid, by the way.
Asked on 9 June 2010 by Dennis Fowler
Answered by
Honest John
The item on Saturday prompted yet another report of a man who had killed his wife trying to right-foot brake an automatic in a confined space. Around 100 people die that way every year. The only way to remain fully in control is to left-foot brake while manoeuvring. If you are uncomfortable left foot braking out on the road, don't do it then. Do it only when manoeuvring. See: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/driving-automatics-safely
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