Why Can’t We Use Different Feet for the Brake & Acceleration in Auto Cars?
If you ever drove the automatic car, you must have noticed the difference between the manual and automatic vehicle driving technique. In simple words, unlike a manual car, you are recommended to use one foot for brake and accelerator in an automatic vehicle.
Did this driving tip, make you wonder, why is it so? If it’s a yes, then let’s find the answer for it. However, before delving deeper into this discussion, you can consider looking at the basic driving skills for better comprehension of the topic.
Automatic Vehicle Driving Technique: Elemental
While you learn the basic driving skills for an automatic vehicle, maintain your focus no stopping and starting. In other words, accelerator and brake pedal.
Tip: Start your driving lessons for an automatic car on the straight and quiet road.
1. Learn the Pedals on Floor
After sitting in the driver seat, you can see two pedals, near your foot. Out of which, the one on the left side is the brake whereas the right one is the accelerator. Both the pedals use right leg only while the left foot is on rest (as defined by driving experts under automatic vehicle driving technique).
2. Understand the Gear Shift
The standard automatic car has the following defined type of gear panel.
D: The alphabet describes the operation “drive” in the forward direction. (DRIVE)
R: This instructs the vehicle to move in a backward direction. (REVERSE)
N: On traffic lights or at an intersection, this “No Gear” panel is selected. However, during this gear panel, keep a foot on the brake for preventing the vehicle from rolling backward or forward. (NEUTRAL)
P: Certain cars demand depressing of the brake pedal before moving into another one. Thus, you can use it when stationary, at it can lock the transmission. (PARK)
1: To increase the car’s speed, this is the mandatory gear panel to enter. Usually, the car is locked in this gear. People prefer to drive in this gear during bad weather conditions, on a muddy road, or while going up or down the steep hills. (FIRST GEAR)
2: In bad weather conditions or while overtaking a car, your vehicle would need more power. This is the time when you move your car from 1st gear into the 2nd one. (SECOND GEAR)
READ MORE:
Automatic Vehicle Driving Technique: Why Not Use Both Legs
After a great survey on this subject, the experts have termed it as an erroneous method of driving an automatic vehicle. Actually, this judgment was reached based on the following two reasons:
1. Severe Damage to Car Parts
People who usually use left foot for brake and right foot for accelerator seem to have damaged their automatic cars badly. This is because, when using both the feet, sometimes the driver steps on both the pedal simultaneously. As a result, more strain is put on transmission fluid, brake, and torque converter. Obviously, this would reduce the efficiency of car parts and its essential controls.
Thus, people are not taught to drive using two feet for vehicle’s durability.
2. Causes More Vehicle Crashes
Another issue is the fact that while driving if your foot settles on the brake a little, this may confuse the rider behind you. And, probably, your car would be hit from behind.
Besides this, in panic/emergency situation, if both the feet go down on the pedal at once, either this may cause a collision with another vehicle or, the vehicle would immediately come to halt!
Therefore, if you want to avoid accidents or any other severe damage to your vehicle, it’s advised to follow the experts’ automatic vehicle driving technique.
