I don't like the idea of left foot braking, that is more likely to cause confusion than using a single foot for both pedals in my opinion.

Sure rally drivers do left foot braking but, they are without a doubt highly skilled drivers.

Having read this thread, I am concerned. I am an OAP and therefore elderly AND drive an automatic.

Would I be safer if I sold the car and drove a manual? My palpitations don't last long and I manage to avoid swerving across two lanes of the motorway - one lane is my record so far.

Would readers please advise?

And keep it simple. I fall alseep every twenty minutes or so.. I rely on the screams from the back seat to wake me up..

:-)

Edited by madf on 16/02/2016 at 13:04

If you pass your test in a manual gearbox car you are then qualified to drive manual and auto but there is no facility within the UK driver testing regime to know if you have ever been taught to drive an auto or have had any experience of one.

Because there are now so many different types of auto, some simple, some not so simple, If an elderly motorist is forced because of physical difficulty to buy an automatic car, I would recommend they have a couple of hours with an instructor who teaches automatic, many do nowadays.

I can't see how this could be made compulsory though.

If you pass your test in a manual gearbox car you are then qualified to drive manual and auto but there is no facility within the UK driver testing regime to know if you have ever been taught to drive an auto or have had any experience of one.

Because there are now so many different types of auto, some simple, some not so simple, If an elderly motorist is forced because of physical difficulty to buy an automatic car, I would recommend they have a couple of hours with an instructor who teaches automatic, many do nowadays.

I can't see how this could be made compulsory though.

If you cannot understand how to drive a car without having to use the manual, it's unsuited to old fogeys like me.

All automatics are simple to drive, in their basic mode - it's only the advanced features like sport-mode or manual intervention that may be too much for some drivers, but they don't need to use those modes and they aren't dangerous if they do so inadvertently.

I leave left-foot braking to rally drivers - mine has stop/go pedals for my right foot, just like the manuals I drive occasionally.

I should have read the manual, 12 months after buying my present donkeys years old Landcruiser i felt a button previously unfelt on the side of the auto trans lever, pressed it and it switched overdrive off as evidenced by a light on the dash and the engine revs climbed.

Course not all manuals are equal either.

Edited by coopshere on 19/02/2016 at 11:32

This has been done to death on a previous thread-the correct safe way to use an automatic at slow speed is to use left-foot braking- it's not ridiculous- it's the proper way to retain control of the car when parking or manouevering.

All my automatics have enabled me to control the car at low speed simply by right foot on the brake - release a little brake pressure to creep, increase brake pressure to stop creeping - when manouevring is finished either select park and switch off or press throttle to accelerate up to normal speeds.

Left-foot braking is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist - unless you're the likes of Ari Vatenan.

I have only had my auto 3 months but even i find zero reasons to left foot brake while at slow speed, all control is using the brake on my car, no accelerator.

And thats all i do creeping in and out of my tight garage.

So ditto RT.

Edited by xtrailman on 19/02/2016 at 15:48

This has been done to death on a previous thread-the correct safe way to use an automatic at slow speed is to use left-foot braking- it's not ridiculous- it's the proper way to retain control of the car when parking or manouevering.

I agree wholeheartedly with focussed as will the majority of drivers who have had long term experience of vehicles with automatic gearboxes. By doing this the driver has much better control at low speeds and in confined spaces. I had the first of many autos in 1968 and one of my current cars is an automatic. I have always used my left foot when driving autos for braking, when manouvering in tight spaces and driving on our narrow country lanes. This allows for the 30 year old plus idiots of both sexes in their 4X4s, people carriers or whatever the latest fashion statement in cars is, (s.u.v.s?) who drive around blind bends too fast in the middle of the road. It has to reduce reaction time if the left foot is already covering the brake pedal and this applies to both the young and elderly. When driving at normal speeds on two lane single carriageway roads, dual carriageways and motorways I allow my left leg to become redundant unless and untill driving conditions dictate otherwise.

I'm absolutely staggered that any experienced driver would suggest driving on the open road using both feet on a two pedal auto a good thing, very glad i leave a decent braking distance, they wouldn't have been doing this for long when a panic stop ensued in pre ABS days, crunch.

Manoeuvering with a poor box such as an automated manual or twin clutch i can understand the need to LFB given how likely they are to lurch away or to roll back if an obstacle should assist or impede progress, not a situation a TC box* normally encounters where as said most manoeuvers can be completed purely on creep with the right foot applying the brake to suit.

*there are exceptions, one maker stopped vehicles being reversed onto the top decks of transporters, the odd vehicle going straight off the peak deck backwards to a spectacular halt, much better to drive off forwards...:-)) you might think i'm pulling your leg, 'fraid not.

Instead of being absolutely staggered read and try to understand the last seven words of my post which relate to driving on the open road when traffic conditions are such that left foot braking with an auto is an advantage, as I said before covering the brake pedal with the left foot reduces reaction time and is particularly useful for example when in heavy slow moving traffic where drivers take it into their head to change lanes without warning and occupy the gap that others have left for safe stopping distance, I'm surprised that this should be so difficult to grasp.

Ok gordonbennet and RT, I surrender, the white flag is unfurled. I know when I'm beaten, I will refrain from further comment but will continue to drive as I have for the last 50 odd years and wish you both many years of safe incident free and enjoyable motoring in the future.

ne to death on a previous thread-the correct safe way to use an automatic at slow speed is to use left-foot braking- it's not ridiculous- it's the proper way to retain control of the car when parking or manouevering.

Oh dear, I have been driving automatics unsafely all my life as have millions of other people.

My view is simple: when parking or manouevering,creep lets me move without touching the accelerator so right foot hovers over brake..

I have avoided crashing under these circumstances for 50 years of driving as have millions others...

Senior citizens allegedly losing control of automatics is but a morsel

I wonder how many of you with this opinion would change your mind if your wife or child was killed by somebody who should not be driving?

It is very easy to try and dismiss it as a trifling matter, it is actually a growing problem as more and more of us are driving to a much greater age than ever before.