Are there any dangers associated to left-foot braking?

"My citroen won't start" (lucasboechat) 09/01/2014 at 09:03 • Filed to: None

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Living in a third world country where manual econoboxes rule, my friends want to crucify me for doing it, are there any downsides to it, in an auto?

Brian Silvestro > My citroen won't start 09/01/2014 at 09:07

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Cé hé sin > My citroen won't start 09/01/2014 at 09:12

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No, unless you also drive manuals in which case confusion may set in.

Dusty Ventures > My citroen won't start 09/01/2014 at 09:19

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Nope, just so long as you make sure you're not riding the brake while driving (or the gas while braking). Left foot braking can reduce your reaction time, thereby reducing your stopping distance. If your friends keep giving you trouble for it, tell them a rally school instructor said its a good idea, that's who taught me.

JEM > My citroen won't start 09/01/2014 at 09:36

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Well, certainly not as many dangers as left-foot accelerating.

TheRallyStache > Cé hé sin 09/01/2014 at 09:55

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Learn to dance lol. I toe-heel downshift and left foot brake all the time in my car.

TheRallyStache > My citroen won't start 09/01/2014 at 09:56

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deekster_caddy > My citroen won't start 09/01/2014 at 10:02

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The big concern is that your left foot gets tired from hovering over the pedal and starts to drop, activating your brake lights and even dragging the brakes. That's bad. The "advantage" is a faster response to the brake pedal.

I've been driving for 25 years and never used my left foot for the brake. Left foot is reserved for the clutch pedal and high beam switch.

My citroen won't start > deekster_caddy 09/01/2014 at 10:23

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High beam switch?

Dusty Ventures > My citroen won't start 09/01/2014 at 10:59

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related:

Tohru > My citroen won't start 09/01/2014 at 12:45

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Left-foot braking has only one real purpose I can think of:

Front wheel drive circuit racing - The left foot on the brakes controls understeer while the right on the gas maintains speed in a corner.

That's it.

I've tried it on the road out of boredom/wanting to try new techniques and all it does in street driving is pump up the brake booster and make the brakes super touchy.

deekster_caddy > My citroen won't start 09/01/2014 at 13:38

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high beam switch activated by the left toe switch on my '73 Buick and '54 MG. Great place for it, it just feels natural there.

My citroen won't start > Tohru 09/01/2014 at 15:07

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Makes sense, I do it because shorter reaction times, but I'm guessing it's unsafe.

My citroen won't start > deekster_caddy 09/01/2014 at 15:08

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Thats quite practical.