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Left-foot braking is the technique of using the left foot to operate the brake pedal in an automobile, leaving the right foot dedicated to the throttle pedal. [1] It contrasts with the practice of using the left foot to operate the clutch pedal, leaving the right foot to share the duties of controlling both brake and gas pedals.
The dead pedal was developed to prevent the accidental actuation of the clutch or brake, also known as left-foot braking, by providing an alternative surface to rest the foot on. The dead pedal became more important with time as stronger and faster cars were developed because the left foot must push against the floor to brace the driver's body.
Left-foot braking is the favored technique for using opposite lock in a front drive vehicle. A related technique is the handbrake turn , in which the rear wheels are deliberately locked in order to break the friction between the tires and the road, allowing the car to be spun around a very tight bend or junction, etc.
A brake check, as it’s called, has its roots in the cheeky culture of early internet message boards for car enthusiasts, but what do today’s laws have to say about it?
No state in the U.S. has a law that explicitly outlaws driving with your shoes off. But that doesn’t mean it’s a great idea. You may have a harder time controlling a pedal with wet or sore feet.
Washington State Trooper John Dattilo said in an interview that brake checking is against the law. “You are not supposed to slow or stop without cause,” Dattilo said.
Normally the throttle and brake are operated by the right foot, while the clutch is operated by the left foot. However, some drivers sometimes mistake the accelerator for the brake, leading to sudden unintended acceleration and causing 16,000 accidents per year in the US. [5] There are also drivers who intentionally practice left-foot braking.
Inducing oversteer by applying power in a front wheel drive car is possible via proper use of "left-foot braking”, and using low gears down steep hills may cause some oversteer. The effect of braking on handling is complicated by load transfer , which is proportional to the (negative) acceleration times the ratio of the center of gravity ...