Left Foot Braking? WTF?

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

So is your right foot still on the accelerator?

Any situation warranting risk mitigation measures such as a left foot hovering above the brake pedal would in my eyes mean no gas is required.

wouldn't the situation at hand determine where my right foot was placed

[gcg2503]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

wouldn't the situation at hand determine where my right foot was placed

You are telling the story.....

Your left foot is hovering due to a perceived danger

I am asking - what is your right foot doing?

Pretty simple really

Common sense would dictate that if there is an omnipresent danger that you would back off the accelerator

hey guess what - right foot is free to brake!

Yeeha! Rejoice!

[Giant Cranium]

Tried lfb today. My left knee hurts from being twisted all day and my leg rubs the steering wheel. Not for me

[XRDeeze]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

You think left foot braking is hard. Try right foot clutching!

while left foot accelerating?

[Sprint]

I would advise against it,its not safe.It might be ok for a race track.

As pointed out earier it can have wear on your brakes and riding them.I am kinda shocked but not suprised people do it in auto's, trying to stall there std converter up lol. Reminds me of the Vn commodore racer at every lights.they must be bored they brought a auto?

Time and a place guys,take it too the race track.Its not safe!!

[ryeman]

I will comfortably get more than 100,000 out of my original pads!
LFB is simply more rational and safe in AUTOS !
We can walk AND chew gum!

[Werd.]

Derpiest thing in the world left foot braking is!

You don't need to brake and accel at the same time so why not just use one foot? I wana slap all the muppets that drive around with their brake lights flashing on and off every time they hit a bump....

Even more disgusting if you do it in an auto imo.

Sometimes it can be useful to get a little bit more turn in on a race track in the right conditions, but that's the only time I would ever consider left foot braking!

Actually I forgot another time I use it, that's stalling up an auto to get off the lights quicker. I've been in cars with left foot braking (namely taxi drivers and clueless female family members/friends) and it just turns the car into a vomit comet, like yer bro instant accel and decel is heaps mad, especially for the passenger who doesn't even have a steering wheel to hold onto...

Originally Posted by gtxb67

i consider having a foot hovering over the brake pedal when i see potential danger as being pro-active. waiting for the potential to manifest itself into full blown danger is re-active - i would think prevention is better than the cure anyday

....??? isn't it more proactive to just get off the accel for a nanosecond and coast for a bit?? Slows you down 1-5KM/H while you're decelerating, and we've all seen what happens to AU Falcons when you do 5KM over the limit, you suddenly run a red light and a truck appears.

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

You think left foot braking is hard. Try right foot clutching!

Been there, done that, readjusting the floor mat while eating chips, shifting with my right hand, knee to steer. not recommended

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

i consider having a foot hovering over the brake pedal when i see potential danger as being pro-active. waiting for the potential to manifest itself into full blown danger is re-active - i would think prevention is better than the cure anyday

Agreed
I often do the same thing, im not the worlds best driver but im always watching side streets, cars coming along side me, cars turning across in front of me at lights. My RIGHT foot will hover over the brake pedal almost automatically.

Right foot throttle anyone, i often do it on interstate trips as i have no cruise and the heal of my right foot gets very sore.

[mex351]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

Any situation warranting risk mitigation measures such as a left foot hovering above the brake pedal would in my eyes mean no gas is required.

And bunrouts are done how...LOL

Must say I use both left or right to brake in a manual car and ALLWAYS drive with two feet in the ute thanks to the big convertor,cam,carby combo on the 250 to make sure it doesn't stall or skid when not needed.

It skids the wheel dropping it into gear cause it idles at 1200ish (1300-1350 when warm) and with my left on the brake it doesn't.Plus it hunts a bit in gear so using the brake helps that aswell.

As for the work utes I left foot brake on dirt roads alot as I find it easier and smoother.If you match your revs you can change up or down with out a clutch anyway so it's just a skill you pick up.Small turbo diesel Colorado's are gutless POS and need constant revs to drive or they stall,bog down and or burn the clutch out when they are nearly 3tonnes loaded with all our tools and stuff.

Some do it some don't...I do it.

[Stefan]

Just to add, in the radio session I was listening to it was alleged (I'm using that word as it was not from the horses mouth so to speak) that in the event of an accident HWP Officers would charge drivers with neg driving if it was found they were using their Left foot to operate the brake.

Unsure if true or how they went about making that determination...

[BENT_8]

Im not sure what all the fuss is about, if you can LFB then good for you, if not, so be it.
Personally i like LF braking, i dont rest on the peddle so my lights are never on whilst accelerating and it gives me much better reaction time to unforseen hazards.
sometines, when i drive bare foot i actually wrap my toes around the brake peddle and lift it up slightly, weird i know.

I've been LF braking since i started driving and have never had a problem doing it, it feels natural and i can adjust peddle pressure equally with both feet.

When i dislocated my right knee in Sydney many years ago i drove a manual 86 corolla all the way to adelaide using my left foot for all 3 peddles, took some getting used to but by the time i hit Bathurst i had it mastered.

[mex351]

Apparently you have skills BENT that others don't so you are considered unsafe...LOL Isn't the internet a wonderful place.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Werd.

....??? isn't it more proactive to just get off the accel for a nanosecond and coast for a bit?? Slows you down 1-5KM/H while you're decelerating, and we've all seen what happens to AU Falcons when you do 5KM over the limit, you suddenly run a red light and a truck appears

once again, it depends entirely on what is happening around me at the time

i am obviously different to some on here
i try and notice things on the road
i can left and right foot the brake with no problems
i can change gears in a lhd and rhd car as easily as one another
i can remember to put oil in my car before it's maiden drive
i don't try and blame all of my problems on others
i don't care how you drive as long as it is safe

if you cannot left foot the brake, then don't
if you don't want to left foot the brake, then don't
but don't tell me how to drive my car - no one on here has had less accidents than myself . . . . that doesn't mean i am good, but i am amazed that those who are no better think they have the right to nanny state me

[XRDeeze]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

When i dislocated my right knee in Sydney many years ago i drove a manual 86 corolla all the way to adelaide using my left foot for all 3 peddles, took some getting used to but by the time i hit Bathurst i had it mastered.

bathurst aye, how did you heel toe downshift on the corners?

[mex351]

Originally Posted by XRDeeze

bathurst aye, how did you heel toe downshift on the corners?

Who said he needs another "foot" to heel toe...

[mex351]

Originally Posted by Werd.

Been there, done that, readjusting the floor mat while eating chips, shifting with my right hand, knee to steer. not recommended

And left foot brakers are the worst thing on the road... Heres the worst thing on the road people,someone not paying attention to actually just "driving" on the road!Enough said there's our winner...

[Werd.]

Originally Posted by mex351

And left foot brakers are the worst thing on the road... Heres the worst thing on the road people,someone not paying attention to actually just "driving" on the road!Enough said there's our winner...

ah well try working a 12 hour shift where you don't even have the time to scratch your ****, much less fit a meal in unless it's on the road. A mans gotta eat!

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by ryeman

For me it ONLY applies to autos.

I thought that was an underlying premise. You couldn't do it with a clutch because you're usually working the brake and the clutch together (braking often leads to having to change down).

[mex351]

Originally Posted by Werd.

ah well try working a 12 hour shift where you don't even have the time to scratch your ****, much less fit a meal in unless it's on the road. A mans gotta eat!

Wow that was awesome,our safety at risk so you can eat chips on the way home instead of wait till you get home or go to a fast food restaurant and sit down.Try and blame your chosen life style and job on your bad driving habits while you sling on left foot brakers...?

This thread has GOLD!

[TheInterceptor]

Im actually surprised of how many left foot brakers there are around!!

I can brake with either..i dont need to use the left while on the streets so i dont. No issues with reaction time here thus far.

Each to their own and im not fussed how people brake so long as people are in control of their vehicle and can operate it safley!! That includes not having the brake lights on all the time due to the left foot resting on the brake a tiny bit and jerky sudden braking!

[mex351]

It's quite easy to do and your left foot doesn't have to be on the pedal constantly to do it either.Some real winners on the road so the safest thing to do is just drive calmly and safely while been ever alert.

[MITCHAY]

I've driven manual cars easily 99.9% of my whole time driving. I honestly don't know how I could left foot brake.

The problem I usually have when I am in an auto is reaching for a non existent clutch pedal lol

[Itsme]

To be honest I was only taught to use the right foot for accelerator & brake, left foot for clutch..... I have never encountered or heard a driving instructors mention using left foot for brake, maybe some driving instructors could comment on this.

I only learned left foot braking mainly doing forklift driving.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by trublu

To be honest I was only taught to use the right foot for accelerator & brake, left foot for clutch..... I have never encountered or heard a driving instructors mention using left foot for brake, maybe some driving instructors could comment on this.

I only learned left foot braking mainly doing forklift driving.

Two caller's on the radio stated that they were taught this method in advanced driving courses.....funnily enough when prompted they then stated it they were actually off road motorsport course. Big difference IMO

[Franco Cozzo]

Left foot - clutch
Right foot - brake and accelerator, or both by accident (oops).

I slammed on the brakes to avoid a Roo in the Focus, and my caterpillar boot took the accelerator down with it as I tend to have my foot on the right side of the brake pedal when I jammed it in.

Luckily I also jammed the clutch in at the same time, came to a stop bouncing off the limiter, lol.

[mex351]

Too right it's a big difference,thats why race car drivers and people who have done advanced driving courses have less on road crashes cos there more alert,know more ways to control a vehicle and how to do so to extract the most performance from the vehicle.This includes braking performance.

Basic get your L's driving courses CAN NOT be compared to advanced driving courses,otherwise your neighbour in her little Excel just learnt how to become a V8 Supercar driver.

I struggle to see how you don't accept this and why you think it is worse.Maybe in different words in another discipline.All AFL players can kick a ball with both feet very well,very few NRL players can do the same but by your thinking a NRL player can kick better than a AFL player.Thats doesn't make sense doe's it..?

You don't left foot brake every single corner but you do in occasions and where needed.Try what they call trail braking into a corner where you carry the brake right up to and beyond where you push the accelerator down and feel how much more squat/stable and quicker to steering input the car is and how well it accelerates out of the corner without wheelspin.Just like dragging the clutch out instead of dumping it at max revs.

Some people are just reading WAY TOO much into this...

[STINKY NINJA]

Those who can do it well and like it feel confident doing so and those who cant do it think its wrong and dangerous,no big deal.
Not everyone is an awesome left foot braker like me to those who like to lfb im glad to be in your company

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by mex351

Try what they call trail braking into a corner where you carry the brake right up to and beyond where you push the accelerator down and feel how much more squat/stable and quicker to steering input the car is and how well it accelerates out of the corner without wheelspin.Just like dragging the clutch out instead of dumping it

Cool, I'll give it a go tomorrow when I take the kids to school.

[superfly]

People keep saying that left foot braking is ok for the track. Sure it may be but even now in the V8 Supercars, there's only 1 left foot braker in the field. Surely if it was "better" then they'd all be doing it?
If you want to left foot brake then go for it but it's definitely not for me. I've driven manuals all my life until now.
And someone mentioned heel and toe on the street to save the synchros? I can't recall a single one of my manual cars having needed to have a synchro replaced. Even the WRX that was driven hard didnt' need new synchros. I once did heel and toe for a whole week just to try it out and all it did was use more fuel.
However if you have a dog box, then heel and toe is a must.

[Ben73]

I gave left foot braking a go today.
I was much more cautious approaching corners and traffic lights, I would brake much earlier than normal.

Felt uncomfortable sitting on what felt like a 45 degree angle.
I never noticed how far the brake pedal was to the right hand side of the footwell until today.