Left foot braking

[Jack_Pine]

Personally don't get it or care...unless...you are setting off your brake lights all the time from the left foot (like someone else pointed out) That is both annoying and potentially dangerous.

 

[Senator]

Looks like I need to learn to drive again. Just discovered something about my new Honda - when you touch the brake pedal the fuel to the engine is cut off, even if you are accelerating. Must be a safety thing. A PITA for me, I spent my adult life in a big city where driving is like trench warfare - each inch of progress is a major battle and two foot driving is a life preserving skill. Well, we'll soon see if this old dog can be taught a new trick.

Left foot braking is a huge safety issue. When in a panic stop, both feet push down.

In the new vehicle, maybe it is OK as pushing the gas pedal at the same time as the brake will not matter anymore. I would suspect that your brakes wore out faster as a result of left foot braking.

With the even newer cars, you do not even need a foot on the brake pedal in a stop. They stop themselves.

 

[easysurfer]

I've probably used my left foot on the brake only a couple of times in my life. This I think was when struck in rush hour traffic and my right leg was starting to cramp up on the brake so long. But I've never heard the term two foot driving before.

 

[harley]

Other than driving in San Francisco (which I've done in a manual transmission, and yes, it's a job not an adventure), I still haven't seen a reason for left foot braking other than personal choice. I'm all in favor of that, and don't have a problem with left foot braking as long as it doesn't impact my safety, but what would be the reason to go with that over what is taught (one foot for both pedals)? How is it a life preserving skill? And I'm seriously curious, not giving anybody a hard time. I just want to know.

 

[Lakewood90712]

There were a number of reports of cars running away i.e. the throttle stuck down, and folks did not think they could shift into neutral. So the car companies put this feature in to ensure that the brake overrides the engine in all cases, so the car can not run away if the throttle sticks.
Now have a look at cars with the adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation systems which apply the brakes if it looks like a rear end collision is coming up. It is interesting that many of the features needed for the driverless car are coming in some models, many of these help prevent the issues that could occur if one is driving and nods off.

That is my understanding as a safety feature.

Way back when I was a youngster , "Old Folks" taught me you could also use the brake and gas at the same time to help stop wheel spin when stuck on ice or mud ( takes a delicate touch, and doesn't always work)

 

[MichaelB]

There were a number of reports of cars running away i.e. the throttle stuck down, and folks did not think they could shift into neutral. So the car companies put this feature in to ensure that the brake overrides the engine in all cases, so the car can not run away if the throttle sticks.

That's my guess as well.

 

[aaronc879]

I see it as a hazard on the road and dislike following a left footed braker, (LFB) as some of them get tired and lightly touch the brake pedal instead of having their foot totally off the brake pedal.

So you see the car doing 70 down the freeway, and the brake light is flashing on, staying on, then off, then on, off , on , off .... etc etc.

Naturally it causes any driver following them to hit the brakes as well, until they learn then they pass the LFB and another person goes through the learning experience.

Plus if they ever truly needed to stop, nobody is going to believe it and could easily rear-end them.

I completely agree. It's very unsafe to be going down the road with your brake lights on if you don't intend to brake. It's almost always older people who probably shouldn't be on the road at all. Maybe MichaelB can use both pedals safely but I am in favor of car manufacturers making it impossible, or very inconvenient, to use both feet.

 

[big-papa]

I think the auto cutoff thing is a new "feature" for fuel savings. I first saw this in a rental car I had in Europe. On the two footed breaking, for me I do it primarily when getting started while on inclines. I always wonder about the folks who might have their left foot resting on the brake at all times - you know, the ones who ride the brake just enough such that their brake lights are always on so you can't tell if they're about to slow down or stop if you're behind them.

 

[MichaelB]

I've never imagined left foot braking, and can't see what the value would be. Even when I finally freed up the left foot from driving clutch I never thought of it. I drove for decades in DC traffic, so it's not like I was in a one stop light town. Why do you do that? What does it buy you?

Hmmm. I've never driven in DC, but I have driven around it, so hard to compare. My driving was mostly in Caracas, but I've also piloted an auto in Rio and Mexico City, and it isn't much different there.

I didn't intend this to be a discussion regarding the merits of using the left foot to brake, and those who don't do this will undoubtedly see no merit in it. I'm also not advocating - in fact, I'm trying to learn to stop doing it.

What is to be gained? Well, just a few feet, perhaps. This is a technique or style that is most effective in stop and go traffic where drivers are not courteous and one must assert oneself in order to advance. All it does is reduce the time to go from acceleration to braking. Granted, no a particularly useful or needed technique here in the States, where drivers are more respectful, cautious and law-abiding.

 

[eytonxav]

I've not heard of the engine fuel being cutoff when the brake pedal is activated, but maybe you will get longer brake life

 

[MichaelB]

Left foot braking is a huge safety issue. When in a panic stop, both feet push down.

No. Not my experience at all.

In the new vehicle, maybe it is OK as pushing the gas pedal at the same time as the brake will not matter anymore. I would suspect that your brakes wore out faster as a result of left foot braking.

No. Not my experience at all. Last car had one brake job, to replace pads, in 150K miles.

With the even newer cars, you do not even need a foot on the brake pedal in a stop. They stop themselves.

Under certain circumstances they apply the brakes automatically. This feature is still a biut "buggy" and a way off from automatic stopping.

 

[MichaelB]

I've not heard of the engine fuel being cutoff when the brake pedal is activated, but maybe you will get longer brake life

It's actually been a problem for me. Pulling out into (or across) fast moving traffic, the car suddenly stops accelerating and slows very quickly. Pushing the accelerator down strongly will overcome this, but only after significant engine hesitation. Not fun in urban traffic.

At first I thought it was a defect in my car, especially after seeing other similar complaints. I noticed, however, that it happened most frequently when accelerating from standstill, and it didn't always happen. A little experimenting and I identified the brake pedal as the "driving force". A little more experimenting confirmed it.

One of these days I'll post over at one of the Honda forums, see what they say. First, though, I'll direct my declining cognitive abilities toward retraining my right foot.

 

[REWahoo]

First, though, I'll direct my declining cognitive abilities toward retraining my right foot.

As a training aid you might try duct-taping your left ankle to the front of your seat...

 

[2017ish]

My only experience on left footed braking was driving my parents' 1980 Thunderbird (ugghh) when home from college. I was used to my manual transmission. Pushed the "clutch" down hard to make a left turn from a 45mph road into a parking lot. Rather embarrassing.

 

[gerntz]

Learned to drive on a stick & have had several, so LFB isn't even thought of.

As long as we're talking unexpected braking, people who brake & slow approaching a green light intersection in anticipation the light will turn red on them are a driving hazard.

My '15 MB C300 when stopped, allows me to take foot off brake totally & stays stopped by itself if I press the brake pedal extra hard once. Net, I can relax vs. keeping foot on brake. Also, engine stops on own as a gas saver unless it needs to run the AC for example. Self-holding brake goes off & engine restarts as soon as I touch gas pedal. But engine doesn't stop if the car is moving at all even with brake applied - right foot.

 

[Midpack]

It's actually been a problem for me. Pulling out into (or across) fast moving traffic, the car suddenly stops accelerating and slows very quickly. Pushing the accelerator down strongly will overcome this, but only after significant engine hesitation. Not fun in urban traffic.

At first I thought it was a defect in my car, especially after seeing other similar complaints. I noticed, however, that it happened most frequently when accelerating from standstill, and it didn't always happen. A little experimenting and I identified the brake pedal as the "driving force". A little more experimenting confirmed it.

One of these days I'll post over at one of the Honda forums, see what they say. First, though, I'll direct my declining cognitive abilities toward retraining my right foot.

Never heard of it, and I was wondering if it was a defect too. But evidently not, started around 2011 in some cars All U.S. Honda Vehicles To Get Brake Overrides By Next Year a feature that might be helpful 1% of the time and a PITA the other 99%? Never noticed but I wonder if my 2012 has it?

 

[ChiliPepr]

I've never imagined left foot braking, and can't see what the value would be. Even when I finally freed up the left foot from driving clutch I never thought of it. I drove for decades in DC traffic, so it's not like I was in a one stop light town. Why do you do that? What does it buy you?

In my opinion, who cares? I haven't ever done that either, but in my view that decision should be MichaelB's to make.

If we were never to ask anyone why they did something or made an investment choice this site would go awful quiet.

Are you recommending that when someone states they do something we should not ask them why and what the benefits are?

As for left foot braking, it has long been discussed on driving forums. This article has a few of the points but this is the one involving safety

eliminating that cumbersome process of going from one pedal to the other can save you 60 feet of stopping distance at roughly 55 mph

One thing that most people agree on is that left foot braking should not be used by someone that is not very comfortable behind the wheel. Left foot braking is also taught in evasive driving courses.

 

[Koolau]

So much material here, I don't know where to start.

I never liked the idea of two foot driving (probably because I never had an autotrans until I had gotten addicted to using the right foot for both brake and gas.) The very WORST issue surrounding two foot driving has already been mentioned. There is a natural tendency to depress the brake pedal sufficiently to illuminate the brake lights - even though no braking is taking place. I read a book called "TRAFFIC" which had a whole section on why (otherwise) normal, smooth-flowing freeway traffic becomes snarled. The worst offender - two foot drivers (distant second were those who go for the brake for every curve, sign, exit, entrance, dip, bump, etc.) It turns out that traffic on freeways can be affected for miles by ONE driver illuminating his brake lights - even if he slows down not at all. The MYTHBUSTERS confirmed this not so long ago. So there's that.

A little practical advice: If one has become used to applying the brake and gas to hold on a hill, it's time to learn about using the hand brake instead. That's how we learned to do it in drivers ed. I've never forgotten it. Of course, GM and others still use the foot emergency brake which is a bit more challenging, but it still works - also the way we learned it in drivers ed when all cars were GM or Ford in drivers ed.

On a less serious tone (though it was serious at the time) I will relay a story of the battle of the sexes (back before THEY won it.) DW and I were at a dinner party with several couples. The conversation took off on how irritating it was to ride with our wives. There were several "issues" discussed. MY particular pet peeve was my wife's tendency to accelerate until she was forced to stop. IOW On the gas until a crash would occur without vigorous braking. Personally, I've always tried to "play" the traffic, watch the lights ahead, etc. With DW, it's either go or stop. So I said "All women must have learned to drive in a Kiddy Kar. They don't think they are driving unless they are pushing a pedal." My statement (admittedly under a little "influence of wine") got a big round of laughter - from the men. The ladies, especially DW were not pleased. So, I did my best in the future not to criticize DW's driving, though I can't always resist showing her that I get 25mpg and she gets 22 on the same car with similar trips - guess it's just a guy thing. In all things related to the sexes, refer back to rule #1. "If Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy."

Comment on a fix for a nonexistent problem: The disabling of the gas pedal upon pushing the brake probably has already been discussed as a response to folks accelerating through their garages or running into crowds of people because of a "demon car" which could not be stopped. IIRC most if not all incidents have been shown to be those who think they are pushing on the brake but are actually pushing on the gas. In any case, the most powerful car ever built can be stopped - even at full throttle - with normally functioning brakes. Naturally (in all of this) YMMV

 

[ChiliPepr]

Looks like I need to learn to drive again. Just discovered something about my new Honda - when you touch the brake pedal the fuel to the engine is cut off, even if you are accelerating. Must be a safety thing. A PITA for me, I spent my adult life in a big city where driving is like trench warfare - each inch of progress is a major battle and two foot driving is a life preserving skill. Well, we'll soon see if this old dog can be taught a new trick.

Good luck learning the new trick. I get frustrated with all the "nanny" features that cannot be turned off.

 

[misanman]

I tried left foot breaking many years ago but I found it very hard to modulate the braking effort without one foot "anchored" to the floorboard. The deceleration from braking tended to cause me to brake harder. Also found it annoying to follow a driver who was riding his/her brakes as others have stated. Seems to me it is a practice to be avoided, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Big_Hitter]

wow, that's almost as bad as when I hit fuel cut at 7000 rpm in my wrx - good thing I moved it to 8500


back on topic - not many of my racing friends left foot brake since they drive manuals - I tried and was never very good at it in my auto trannys

 

[tulak]

A little practical advice: If one has become used to applying the brake and gas to hold on a hill, it's time to learn about using the hand brake instead. That's how we learned to do it in drivers ed. I've never forgotten it. Of course, GM and others still use the foot emergency brake which is a bit more challenging, but it still works - also the way we learned it in drivers ed when all cars were GM or Ford in drivers ed.

Not all cars have a hand brake. The foot emergency brake in our Toyota wouldn't work or at least would be a pain to use. At that point, why not use the actual brake? Make your life easier.

The hand brake technique reminds me of when I had a manual transmission. I hated hills. No real joy in having to use both feet to engage acceleration and a hand brake to make sure you didn't roll back too far. It makes me appreciate our newer Subaru, where I get all of that functionality at a push of a button.

 

[Music Lover]

The only time I've used both feet is when stopped on a steep incline. I'd gradually add gas while holding the brake to minimize the car from rolling backwards.

I used the hand brake in those situations, but it applies more to a stick shift...left foot clutch, right foot gas, ease off on the hand brake while letting out the clutch and pressing the gas pedal.

 

[Texas Proud]

Did you test drive this Honda before you bought it? (I guess that's redundant). Have you called the dealer to ask him about the situation? Sounds like the car might be broken. And, what kind of Honda is it--because I don't want one.

Late to this thread and have not read all the comments...

But I bet big $$$s that this is part of the various sudden acceleration issues that come up off and on over the years... the latest being Toyota....

So, if you have a gas reduction (just enough to keep the engine running) when the brake is applied and someone claims that they were trying to stop and were pushing down hard on the brake but they were still doing 100 mph... well, that is probably false...

This is a safety issue... and I bet that it is in more cars than you might think... I will have to check my Honda and see.... but it is not a newer version...

 

[marko]

It's actually been a problem for me. Pulling out into (or across) fast moving traffic, the car suddenly stops accelerating and slows very quickly. Pushing the accelerator down strongly will overcome this, but only after significant engine hesitation. Not fun in urban traffic.

.

My car has an autostop feature, but it also has a button to disable that feature. It's cool but is a PITA in stop and go traffic so I turn it off.

Does your Honda have some sort of override button?