Is there another way to drive an automatic?

[Onomea]

In Paladin's thread taking on all questions in honor of his impending 75th, he says in one response, "To this day, I operate a car with an automatic transmission using only my right foot to activate the gas and brake pedals. The left foot is still reserved for a clutch should I need to drive a stick."

I do the same, although I have not driven a stick in maybe forty years. (Have no doubt that I could easily do so though.)

Are there drivers out there who use their left foot for the brake pedal? If so, seems kinda dangerous to me....

Anybody remember double clutching so you could downshift into first gear so as to be exceptionally cool? Seems to me that I heard somewhere that way back when you had to double clutch with every gear shift, though that was back before I got my mitts on the wheel.

 

[Hack]

Took driver's ed back in the 60's. They just started using cars with automatic transmissions, and the instructor would slap ya if he saw ya using your left foot for the brake.

IMO: REALLY bad habit to use both feet in normal driving, although there is a place for it on the track.

Double Clutching??? Oh yeah. Piloted a 72 Peterbilt around the country. Know all about Double Clutching and 'floating the gears'.

 

[wyccad915]

Walt Jr. on breaking bad did.

 

[Qball]

Well, i do it all the time.







In my forklift at work

 

[Alpo]

They told us, way back in Driver's Ed, that braking with the left foot led to "riding the brake" - leaving your left foot resting on the brake pedal. This had two results. It wore out your brakes faster. And it made your brake lights stay on all the time, which both annoyed the guy behind you, and gave him no indication of when you were going to stop.

The left foot is for the clutch and the dimmer switch. It is not my fault that the clutch is missing and the dimmer switch in on the turn signal. My left foot is waiting for them.

 

[labworm]

I have been shifting since 1973 and continue to this day, don't think I could drive one of those there automatics.
My left foot has a permanent job.

 

[4011]

I am an illegal left foot breaker! Please forgive. In a panic mode I go back to right footing it. Been driving for 54 years without accident.

 

[arjay]

My 1st car was a 51 Ford pickup and I remember double clutching it.

 

[Roadtrash]

I've got one of each so the left foot stays on the floor except to change gears in the Jeep. I was taught many years ago the left foot never touches the brake.

 

[labworm]

I've got one of each so the left foot stays on the floor except to change gears in the Jeep. I was taught many years ago the left foot never touches the brake.

That was because our vehicles didn't have safety belts.
In the modern era, the left foot will not only put you through the windshield, but you will also have your seat attached to you.

 

[blujax01]

If you have opposable thumbs, this lesson is simple enough:

If you look down and see three pedals, the left one is for your left foot.

If you look down and see two pedals, count your feet. If the answer is also two, you may use the left foot on the left pedal.

Unless of course, you somehow confuse the left pedal for a foot rest. In which case, you should probably take the bus.

That is all...

 

[Donn]

Never had an auto trans till '91, now I wouldn't have anything else. Never realized what a PITA a stick is. If I need a reminder, I roll the old Chevy out of the garage. To the question, right foot only. The left is along for the ride.

 

[Old TexMex]

I drove right foot only until an executive protection training course that had a driving course in it. Now my left foot has to suit up and show up just like his over achiever rightwing brother. At least my shoes wear out at the same rate now...

 

[madmikeb]

For years I only drove standards. On the rare occasion that I would drive an auto, I found that when I was just coming to a stop that left foot would come up and try to push the clutch in. It would hit that wide auto brake pedal and try to push it to the floor which would result in my stopping a lot sooner than I was planning on!
I got into the habit of braking with my left foot in an auto just to prevent that. These days since I'm driving more autos than standards I have gone back to braking with my right foot.

 

[ralph7]

If you want to react as fast as possible in an emergency stop situation driving an automatic, you stop with the left foot.
Takes a lot longer to remove the right foot from the accelerator to the brake, than the left foot straight to the brake.

 

[Xtasy]

If you want to react as fast as possible in an emergency stop situation driving an automatic, you stop with the left foot.
Takes a lot longer to remove the right foot from the accelerator to the brake, than the left foot straight to the brake.

While you are right with that, most people are just not trained enough to do so. For them it is better just using one foot to avoid accelerating why trying to brake which would probably lead to more accidents

 

[Rugskipper]

I once sprained my right ankle pretty bad, and found driving to be a PITA, until I parked it on the tranny hump and started using the left foot for everything. A little jerky at first, but within 5 or 10 miles it was second nature. (I did give it up when the ankle got better.)

 

[JJEH]

When I drive A/T my left foot is working the brake. No problem to switch between M/T and A/T. I need to thank my parents for this as well as my driving training and my experience as test driver.

If you want to react as fast as possible in an emergency stop situation driving an automatic, you stop with the left foot.
Takes a lot longer to remove the right foot from the accelerator to the brake, than the left foot straight to the brake.

I had such emergencies as well as a lot of other test drivers. If you have such an emergency and it gets you by surprise, guess what? You'll brake with both feet!

While you are right with that, most people are just not trained enough to do so. For them it is better just using one foot to avoid accelerating why trying to brake which would probably lead to more accidents

Modern cars shut off the fuel delivery if you apply the brake. Just take a test drive and try it. It's not ideal I know, but that's what manufacturers come up with (talking Mercedes-Benz 4-matic and similar systems).

 

[feralmerril]

Why in the world would anyone even consider brakeing with their left foot with a automatic tranny? I drove that way once with a cast on my right leg.
I had standard transmissions years ago. The only problem with them could be stopping on a steep hill at a stop sign, but there again I had a couple of old studebakers with a "Hill holder". How many of you have even heard of them? When you had to stop on a hill in gear, you just pushed in your clutch and brake, take your foot off the brake and leave the clutch in. You could then shift to first without rolling backwards.
I could also shift those studebakers pretty easy once you got the feel for it in the higher gears without useing the clutch. Also had a 1951 dodge coup with a standard/ slop amatic transmission that you could take off with in third but it was sluggish driving that way. I have a 2007 toyota avalon I bought new with a tranny that the manuel says I can shift like a straight stick if I want to, yet I have never even tried it!
I bought new a 1992 short bed GMC that had a 350 CI and a manuel 5 speed tranny. I loved that truck! However it did keep you busy shifting around town. It had a ton of power and got great gas mileage. I own two trucks right now a 2000 GMC and a 2001 silverado both with the extended cabs. The GMC has the bigger engine and the silverado the little V8. Neither one is as powerful as my old GMC nor gets near the mileage it did.
Why in the world did they quit building the 350 ci?

 

[Alpo]

I remember, in high school, driving my mother's car, one day. I got in a street drag race with another guy. Put it in L and floored it, and the Buick jumped. When I went for second that left foot went for the clutch automatically, and hit the edge of that WIDE power-brake pedal, and stood that car on its nose.

I lost the race.