Tailgating

If there's no clutch pedal, it makes sense to use the left foot for braking. I've always done this.

If you drive BOTH manuals and automatics then you'll want to avoid left foot brakeing ... leads to applying the brake when you wanted the clutch ... any tailgater will get a shock!

I should know better than getting involved in the quest to make you see reason, but it seems your grasp on mathematics is equally lacking in 'real life' application, as your take on physics, considering how you justify your decision to tailgate other vehicles. So to say that everyone will crash someday if he rides indefinitely is as daft as walking into a casino thinking that you will ALWAYS win in roulette, provided you have unlimited funds and are always willing and able to double your bet after a loss. See, the thing is that no one LIVES indefinitely (and not even Bill Gates has an unlimited supply money). The question you'd have to ask yourself is - will my life EXPECTANCY be affected by my proposed action - in your case a decision to spend your time in traffic ONE SECOND behind the driver in front of you, rather than the recommended 3 seconds, and how will this effect your life expectancy (if you want to get philosophical about it, you could - some would say SHOULD, but far be it for me to judge -in fact ask yourself how it will affect your life QUALITY). You don't have to have a major in applied statistics to answer that you are NOT stacking the cards in your favor by eroding the safety zone in front of you down to bare bones. If nothing else - at least acknowledge that while riding you will have NO TIME AT ALL, to enjoy the ANY OTHER VIEW, than the brake lights of the vehicle in front of you. Hope they're nice and shiny
Enjoy your ride

And no time to look for;
a side swipe,
street signs that point your route
GPS showing your route
Speed signs
Signs warning of hazards ahead (gravel, potholes, road construction etc)

In general you will be vulnerable to ALL other hazards... relying on your luck and the good will of others to keep out of your way.

Are driving schools actually teaching left foot on brake

that explains a lot of bad driving habits I see

left foot braking is not wise even with automatic right foot braking insures you are not applying gas and brake at same time

Bad habit to get into. ALL the driving schools say to always use your right foot for gas and brake no matter auto or stick. Partly to make sure you are not hitting the gas instead of, or in addition to, the brake, and partly to ensure you do not hit both at the same time. Further, unless you are hovering your left foot over the brake, you reaction time is actually faster going from gas to brake.

Jim

Not a problem for me. I interchange all the time. All it takes is experience and concentration.

Same here. I aint skeered of a lil' heel and toe action.

You do realize the "heal and toe" refer to clutch, brake and gas, with the gas and brake actuated by the right foot, right?

http://www.drivingfast.net/car-control/heel-toe-shifting.htm

Jim

I'm terrified to teach my gf to drive a stick because she brakes with her left foot. She is going to coast into a wall thinking she is braking but actually on the clutch.

Left foot braking = fail driving test in some places.

Those "runaway" Audi incidents some years ago - left foot braking while applying full throttle!! :eek1

As already mentioned - BAD BAD habit.

Yup, and I learned in 1961 driving my MGA. Been doing it ever since. BTW, "heel"....

Only for dummies who can't learn the basics..........

And let's remember that driving schools cater to the lowest common denominator. After all, in the U.S., you barely have to be able to fog a mirror to get a license to drive.

My father, early 80's, uses his left foot for the brake, that is how he was taught. He had to take the senior driving test a few years ago and he asked if it was ok and the tester said it was common in his age group. I wounder if this explains the older drivers driving through store windows.

Indeed: heel ...
With my shoe size 12 it is more "left side of ball of foot"-"right side of ball of foot" action.

And I only left-foot brake on on-ramps and off-ramps, to prevent my pig of a car Camry from understeering. Combined with open throttle it brings the rear around nicely to get around the turn faster.

To bring it back on topic, I love using this method to get rid of tailgating BMWs and other fast cars with slow drivers riding my back bumper at 75 mph just before the off ramp. ...Pshh, straight line racer heros.

Just a generic term. Depends on how the pedals are set up. Had to use the heel on my military jeep. And my feet aren't as big as yours, either.....

I remember seeing on Top Gear (British version) that at least some of the pro racers use left foot braking on the track. I bet few, if any, of us drive at that level on the street.

With my brake being on the right side of the bike the left foot braking thing can prove to be problematic.

I'm sorry, I thought you rode sidesaddle.