Do you brake with your left foot?

[TJandGENESIS]

I do. I started recently, after years of driving a clutch, and not knowing what to do with my left foot, and, my right foot after the loss of the pinky toe, has not moved quite the same as it once did. SO, I now brake with my left foot.

I wondered if others did. And I GOOGLED it, and found that some folks think it helps with braking the car; less time to move the right foot to the pedal then moving the left foot.

I'm not sure it's for everyone, and took about a day to get used to, but now I wonder why I hadn't done this years ago.

It makes sense that this works for me; I am left handed after all.

[narf]

Left foot braking is a common technique in performance driving. It lets you transfer the forces from acceleration to braking in a smoother less jarring way. It also slightly cuts reaction time.

However, on the street, drivers have a tendency to rest their left foot on the brake pedal. Not only will this hurt your fuel efficiency, but if it keeps the brake lights on all the time (and I'm sure you've followed drivers like that) the driver following you never knows if you are braking or not, increasing the risk of being rear ended. Keep that in mind if you start left foot braking on the street.

[effwitt]

Ford did a study many years ago and found that left foot braking didn't have much effect in terms of safety in emergencies.

Before I got my Prius I used to left foot brake to reduce the transition time between braking and accelerating out of a turn and because it was harder to brake smoothly (I liked the challenge).

[TJandGENESIS]

I noticed that with my right foot after my loss of toe, that my foot seemed kind of 'slugish' so I started to test the idea out of braking with my left foot. I had spent years driving a clutch, so my left foot is used to doing something.

(Heck, with one Bug I used to have to keep the right foot on the gas and brake at the same time I had my left on the clutch, so as to not stall.)

But with my Mustang, (and this is odd, I know), but with my Mustang I think the brake pedal is slightly smaller then on other cars, and I just noticed that sometimes my right foot would slip off the smaller pedal, so since I had practiced with my left foot braking earlier this year, I went back to it, and have found no problem. In fact, it seems to me more natural then using the right to brake.

Now, having said all that, I really wish I had hand paddles that I could brake and accelerate with. That would be neat.

[daniel]

The Xebra has a cut-out switch on the brake pedal that prevents juice going to the motor if your foot is on the brake. The slightest pressure on the brake pedal will activate it. Thus your system wouldn't work well. You'd have to hold your foot over the pedal without touching it.

I've never used my left foot on the brake since I was maybe ten years old and drove a bump car at an amusement park. I know someone who brakes with his left foot, but like you he has a problem with his feet, making them a bit less responsive. I can see that being an issue.

[hyo silver]

I think my habits are too ingrained to change now, though switching to left foot braking for the occasional go cart race seems pretty easy. If it works for you, TJ, that's great. It kinda makes sense, being 'left-footed' anyway, and with an injury to your right foot. I've tried paddles for shifting (but only on a racing game/simulator) and liked them very much. I certainy wouldn't label you 'handicapped' for missing a pinky toe, but there are various types of hand controls developed for people who need them.

[patsparks]

I have done, I don't now but I do recall left foot braking in my past.
Race drivers left foot brake at the end of a long straight to pump the calipers out and warm the brake linings.

[TJandGENESIS]

Originally Posted by patsparks

I have done, I don't now but I do recall left foot braking in my past.
Race drivers left foot brake at the end of a long straight to pump the calipers out and warm the brake linings.

I did not know that.

Huh.

[hyo silver]

That's because the brake discs on racing cars are partly carbon fibre, and utterly useless unless they're hot. At night races, you can see them glowing when in use.

[effwitt]

An F1 race car driver tries to keep his carbon fiber brake pads at about 1600 degrees Fahrenheit for maximum performance. On some tracks they're completely worn out after 90 minutes of use. A single carbon fiber brake disc can cost $5,000. Multiply that by four wheels and then add in the cost of the carbon fiber brake pads (two per wheel) and the braking "consumables" used by an F1 racer cost more than a new, fully equipped Prius!