Car Pedals

[corbennic]

Ok this is going to sound like a stupid question but what order do the pedals go in the cars?

Here it is Clutch Brake Accelerator (left to right - I know you all know what I meant but DF has told me to put it. )

What are the pedals like over there? I have a fear of accelerating when I want to brake.

 

[Claire L]

There is just the brake and accelerator, as most cars automatic, but the pedals are same set up as here.

Claire

 

[daipp]

Ok this is going to sound like a stupid question but what order do the pedals go in the cars?

Here it is Clutch Brake Accelerator (left to right - I know you all know what I meant but DF has told me to put it. )

What are the pedals like over there? I have a fear of accelerating when I want to brake.

It's not a stupid question because the very first time I hired a car abroad (I think it was Majorca) I presumed th same thing

David

 

[brightspark]

I had fun and games(?) with the pedals when we were out there. I would brake with my left foot with the same force that I use on the clutch at home...which meant nearly going through the windscreen... In the end I used my right foot for both, as I was getting sick of the very jerky stops! LOL I guess some would say 'typical woman driver' but hey I was very tired when we first drove, and well...

 

[Shazzie B]

Use your right foot for accelerator and break (some positions as manual vehicle) Give your left leg/foot a holiday!!! or you will get confused.

Have a great time

 

[Andy B]

I had fun and games(?) with the pedals when we were out there. I would brake with my left foot with the same force that I use on the clutch at home...which meant nearly going through the windscreen... In the end I used my right foot for both, as I was getting sick of the very jerky stops! LOL I guess some would say 'typical woman driver' but hey I was very tired when we first drove, and well...

Should not routinely use left foot for brake as using at the same time as accelerator will wear the automatic trasmission.

Essentially it's stop & go with the right foot.

 

[AliceGardner]

Should not routinely use left foot for brake as using at the same time as accelerator will wear the automatic trasmission.

Essentially it's stop & go with the right foot.

Agreed. I had heard that it could be dangerous too (i.e. if you apply the brake and accelerator at the same time - which is a risk with using one foot for the brake, one for the accelerator). But I haven't tried using one foot for each, so I can't actually say what the results of pressing both at the same time are.

One tip that my Dad says about driving an automatic if you have a "twitchy" left foot - cross it behind the other or tuck it under the seat (if there is room to do it comfortably): put it anywhere out of the way that you wont be tempted to use it.

Alice

 

[brightspark]

Sadly they don't tell you these things when you pick up the car (like they don't even tell you how to change the gear stick when there is no clutch - I had to go back and ask). Anyway I didn't do any braking and accelerating at the same time... so that wasn't a problem. Just very weird not having a clutch. Glad I didnt have any hill starts to do, as never did figure it all out!

Not as bad as when I drove in the Canaries and no-one told me how to find reverse!!! That nearly resulted in my driving into a wall! LOL maybe I shouldn't be allowed in a car overseas! BUT we had NO accidents and I drove all the way to Vero Beach and back twice!

 

[AliceGardner]

Sadly they don't tell you these things when you pick up the car (like they don't even tell you how to change the gear stick when there is no clutch - I had to go back and ask). Anyway I didn't do any braking and accelerating at the same time... so that wasn't a problem.

It is basically just common sense (or "doing what you do in the UK") - if you use the right foot to brake and accelerate in the UK, why would you suddenly swap to braking with your left foot? Pushing both pedals at one time is one risk, jabbing on the accelerator instead of the brake in an emergency is another.

Glad I didnt have any hill starts to do, as never did figure it all out!

You don't have "hill starts" in an automatic - at least they are no different to any other starts. If your automatic gearbox is in "drive" (D) or "reverse" (R), then you should only go forward or backwards respectively (even on a hill). You would have to be in "neutral" (N) for your car to "free-wheel" (worth remembering if you ever need to get out and push your car - put it in N). If the hill is very steep, then you may feel a little tendency to slip. All you need to do is start the car, put your (right) foot on the brake, switch from park (P) to D and GENTLY EASE your foot onto the gas (accelerator) and your car will ease forward. There is no "biting point" on an automatic - everything is a lot easier.

Regards
Alice

 

[brightspark]

It is basically just common sense (or "doing what you do in the UK") - if you use the right foot to brake and accelerate in the UK, why would you suddenly swap to braking with your left foot?

Logic tells me I have 2 feet and 2 pedals... hmm...

anyway, moving swiftly on...

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Is someone going to mention the dreaded three way and four way stops??

 

[brightspark]

Is someone going to mention the dreaded three way and four way stops??

You have to stop??

 

[AliceGardner]

You have to stop??

Otherwise they would be 3 way and 4 way "give ways"

AliceG

 

[DeborahS]

Hi

I am new here and have never been to Orlando before... going this September - am REAL excited...

I am left-handed, does that mean that I brake and accelerate both with my left foot?

Deborah

 

[Shazzie B]

What feet do you use in a manual?

It would be very awkward to drive 'left footed' as the pedals are on the right-hand side of the footwell. With a 'gap on the left to rest your left foot. It can be done I did it for a short local trip when I had a bad knee-not to be reccommended though.

 

[brightspark]

You have to stop??

I'm sorry, I knew this... I just wanted to see what response I would get!!!

 

[DeborahS]

What feet do you use in a manual?

It would be very awkward to drive 'left footed' as the pedals are on the right-hand side of the footwell. With a 'gap on the left to rest your left foot. It can be done I did it for a short local trip when I had a bad knee-not to be reccommended though.

Surly though if as brightspark says you can use the brake and accelerator two footed (left on brake, right on accelerator), then using just your left foot should be ok? If as you said there is room for your legs.

I don't know I just find things so much comfortable with my left foot (think it might be to do with being lefthanded). But then I don't drive much normally (so am not really biased into using brake and accelerator with my right foot) but thought it would be useful to have a car to get around Orlando.

Deborah

 

[PoppyAnna]

Agreed. I had heard that it could be dangerous too (i.e. if you apply the brake and accelerator at the same time - which is a risk with using one foot for the brake, one for the accelerator). But I haven't tried using one foot for each, so I can't actually say what the results of pressing both at the same time are.

One tip that my Dad says about driving an automatic if you have a "twitchy" left foot - cross it behind the other or tuck it under the seat (if there is room to do it comfortably): put it anywhere out of the way that you wont be tempted to use it.

Alice

Your Dad gives great advice Alice, def tuck your left foot under your chair. I drive a manual here but as I do a lot of urban driving I would love an auto but DH says "not yet woman, we're too young"!.....his Dad has an auto too!

 

[Camac]

In the UK you use your right foot to accelerate, your right foot to break and your left foot for the clutch.

In the US the vast majority (if not all) of hire cars are automatic and therefore have no clutch pedal so you use the same feet as in the UK to operate the pedals - right foot to accelerate, right foot to break, you have no clutch therefore you do not need to use your left foot.

Do not get in the habit of using your left foot when driving in the US as you may get into difficulities when you get back into your manual car at home.

 

[corbennic]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I have a better idea of what I'm doing now.

Hope so anyway!