Why it is strictly forbidden to step on the brake with the left foot
- April 13, 2023
- 0
Pressing the brake pedal with your left foot is very common in motorsport, and this simple way is the idea of 1965 European rally champion Rauno Aaltonen. But
Pressing the brake pedal with your left foot is very common in motorsport, and this simple way is the idea of 1965 European rally champion Rauno Aaltonen. But in everyday life, working with both feet, accelerating and braking while driving is extremely contraindicated. And here’s why.
According to the analysis of renowned foreign experts Evidence Solutions, at a speed of 85 km / h, while keeping the left foot on the brake, the braking distance is reduced by 18 meters and the time saved is 0.75 seconds.
However, this does not mean that such a method will be effective on public roads. The brain of an ordinary driver who does not have the skills of sports driving is not able to immediately give impulses to rearrange the legs while driving. No wonder that in some cases accidents happen precisely because the driver confuses the brake and accelerator pedals.
Many drivers, after using manual transmission cars for a long time, get used to the fact that you only have to work with your right foot on a car with an automatic transmission. However, the “mechanics” only involve the left when the clutch is pressed – we still slow down with the right. The fact is that when depressing the clutch, drivers press the pedal all the way and with quite a tangible effort. And if you press the brake pedal with the same force, the car will not only stand upright, but can also cause an accident.
What is it: even without an accident, during a sharp deceleration, you can get hurt and injured – hitting something in the cabin, even if the driver or passengers are wearing seat belts, and ending with a banal entrapment of the cervical spine. The fact remains that the brake pedal is faster and more sensitive than the clutch. An experienced driver instinctively pushes through the “floor” with a certain load, and the brain, we repeat, may simply not have time to command the “steersman” to show the same dexterity when braking. Especially in acute and unsafe situations on the roadway.
Returning to motor racing, it is worth noting that professional racers use both feet when it is necessary to slow down a bit while keeping their right foot on the accelerator. By the way, this approach allows you to subtly control both the speed and the trajectory of the car while sliding. After all, every second counts to win. But as mentioned earlier, such experiments on a busy road will not end in anything good for a homegrown Schumacher.
Photo: AvtoVzglyad
According to the analysis of renowned foreign experts Evidence Solutions, at a speed of 85 km / h, while keeping the left foot on the brake, the braking distance is reduced by 18 meters and the time saved is 0.75 seconds.
However, this does not mean that such a method will be effective on public roads. The brain of an ordinary driver who does not have the skills of sports driving is not able to immediately give impulses to rearrange the legs while driving. No wonder that in some cases accidents happen precisely because the driver confuses the brake and accelerator pedals.
Many drivers, after using manual transmission cars for a long time, get used to the fact that you only have to work with your right foot on a car with an automatic transmission. However, the “mechanics” only involve the left when the clutch is pressed – we still slow down with the right. The fact is that when depressing the clutch, drivers press the pedal all the way and with quite a tangible effort. And if you press the brake pedal with the same force, the car will not only stand upright, but it may also cause an accident.
What is it: even without an accident, during a sharp deceleration, you can get hurt and injured – hitting something in the cabin, even if the driver or passengers are wearing seat belts, and ending with a banal entrapment of the cervical spine. The fact remains that the brake pedal is faster and more sensitive than the clutch. An experienced driver instinctively pushes through the “floor” with a certain load, and the brain, we repeat, may simply not have time to command the “steersman” to show the same dexterity when braking. Especially in acute and unsafe situations on the roadway.
Returning to motor racing, it is worth noting that professional racers use both feet when it is necessary to slow down a bit while keeping their right foot on the accelerator. By the way, this approach allows you to subtly control both the speed and the trajectory of the car while sliding. After all, every second counts to win. But as mentioned earlier, such experiments on a busy road will not end in anything good for a homegrown Schumacher.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
