topic Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left? in Community Chat

Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

fthunt — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:16:36 GMT

I've wondered about the percentage of drivers who brake with their right or left. An accident in my city prompted my interest. Older gent going too fast off exit ramp, crossed common lawn area and slammed into a city bus. Yes, he hit the gas petal instead of the brake. Bus was busted up; butt no passengers were hut - shaken..... yes.

Just an interesting survey of drivers..

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

chickenbutt — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:19:17 GMT

Right.

It was taught that way for good reason.

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

sgraham30 — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:20:15 GMT

I use my right foot.

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

sunshine45 — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:22:09 GMT

right, but i remember my dad always using his left foot to brake.

he was more used to driving a clutch for many years.

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

chloe66 — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:22:23 GMT

Right

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

MyGirlsMom — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:22:28 GMT

One foot - right foot for the brake and gas pedal

(unless of course one is handicapped and must use the left foot or hand devices)

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

MickD — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:22:57 GMT

@fthunt my brother who was a historically bad driver would brake with his left foot. He would constantly ride the brake or stop...go....stop go......I would get motion sickness in the passenger seat! He lost his license and does not have a car now....thank goodness. I brake and accelerate with my right foot when I drive my DH's automatic. I prefer my 5 on the floor manual so don't have a choice....

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

BettyNewbie — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:24:45 GMT

my hubs used his left...he used to ride the brake constantly....he was a policeman so thats how he patroled alleys and such....drove me nuts in our personal car.....I always wondered how he drove for 8 1/2 hours every night without me telling him how to do it...hahahaha...*snort*

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

TaylorBrown — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:32:32 GMT

I use my right foot for gas pedal and the brake.

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

pattypeep — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:35:32 GMT

Right foot for gas and brake. My mom, God rest her soul, used to ride her brakes all the time. Right foot on the gas, left foot hovered above the brake pedal. Ouy !!

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

libbyannE — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:37:44 GMT

We were taught in required driver's ed classes to brake with right foot. Period.

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

fthunt — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:40:24 GMT

I'll confess....I'm a lefty. In driver's ed was taught to use the right foot; but when I was in the working world - wearing high heels - had an experience of a near accident but my shoe heel was stuck under the pedal. Tried to get my foot out of the shoe to no avail. That's when 'lefty' came to the rescue and it just came natural to me to brake with my left. I know some people do tend to 'ride the brake' but I'm aware tail lights come on and off & causes drivers behind me - to go nuts. My right foot now has no pressure sense on the brake - jerky jerky motion instead of a smooth reduction in speed.

Thanks for your inputs - I find them interesting!

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

rustee — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:42:00 GMT

Right foot ~ I am not ambidextrous ~ LOL

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

Marp — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:46:44 GMT

I saw video of that accident on the news tonight. Unbelievable that no one was seriously injured.

I brake with my left foot.

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

Bri21 — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:52:09 GMT

I brake with my right foot.

My husband breaks with the left foot. He learned to drive a stick shift. I guess it's just habit.

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

sophiamarie — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:52:21 GMT

Right foot. I save my left foot for the gas pedal......

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

Marp — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:53:58 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
I'll confess....I'm a lefty. In driver's ed was taught to use the right foot; but when I was in the working world - wearing high heels - had an experience of a near accident but my shoe heel was stuck under the pedal. Tried to get my foot out of the shoe to no avail. That's when 'lefty' came to the rescue and it just came natural to me to brake with my left. I know some people do tend to 'ride the brake' but I'm aware tail lights come on and off & causes drivers behind me - to go nuts. My right foot now has no pressure sense on the brake - jerky jerky motion instead of a smooth reduction in speed.
Thanks for your inputs - I find them interesting!

That is a perfect explanation of what happens when I try to brake with my right foot.

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

granny me — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:58:44 GMT

I learned to drive a standard, brake right and clutch left.

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

kittymomNC — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 01:00:55 GMT

I brake with my right foot - I don't have a choice because I drive a 5-speed and my left is on the clutch.... but when I did drive an automatic, I still used my right foot.

Re: Drivers - Brake with right foot or left?

insomniac2 — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 01:02:52 GMT

My right foot does all the work; the left foot is in relax mode.