How many feet do you drive with?

[MrsPiglet]

My 16 year old daughter is learning to drive. She wants to drive with both feet, she claims she is more comfortable. (I drive with two feet also.) Her uncle lets her drive his car, but he wants her to drive with one foot. He claims it is safer to drive with one foot. So what do you all do? Do you drive with one foot or two?

 

[tevagirl]

My husband drives with two. I tried it once and almost put myself right through the windshield.

 

[denisenh]

I drove with one foot when I learned to drive. I started using two when my DH (then my boyfriend) showed me how to keep the crappy car I used to have from stalling at a red light. That was a LOOOOONNGGG time ago and I haven't broken the habit yet.

 

[staley7580]

One. I have never heard of anyone driving with 2, unless its a manual.

 

[JoBird]

LOL! ONE!
I too tried it and my left foot got all tangled up with my right foot and I almost ran over a stop sign.

 

[NMAmy]

One foot for an automatic. Two feet for a manual transmission--I haven't quite figured out how to push the clutch and the gas at the same time with only one foot.

When I learned to drive, they were quite insistent that you should only use one foot--I have no idea why.

 

[Imzadi]

I usually drive with one foot. But, if my right foot is tired or in rush hour traffic that is mostly stop & crawl, then stop again, I'll drive with two.

I think the important difference in driving with one foot is if you need to drive a standard shift sometime. You need the left foot for the shift. That's assuming you learn to drive a standard at all. It's hard enough learning the hand action, with releasing the clutch slowly, while pressing on the gas or the break like you normally do.

 

[MinnieMe87]

One! I tried to use both at my very first driver's ed lesson and got the chicken break before we even got past the stop sign! Never did it again. I did try to use my left foot for braking once after that, but it just felt weird. I'll continue to use one foot. Don't want to hurt any pedestrians or hit a stop sign!!

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

12

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I was taught to drive by a cop (my dad). He said using his left foot for the brake was the only way he could drive his patrol car all day without his right foot getting tired. He encouraged me to learn to brake with both feet and I'm glad I did.

I don't usually use my left foot but I can if I need to. Funny story - several years ago, I chipped a bone in my right ankle at work and had to go to this creepy clinic that accepted worker's comp. The doctor there was a little weird. I didn't have a cast and was able to walk on my ankle. I mentioned to the doctor once that I was able to use my injured right ankle for the gas pedal just fine and was using my left foot for the brake. She said, "You can't do that! It's illegal!" I confirmed with my dad (the retired cop) that it is not illegal to brake with your left foot. And how would a cop know you're doing it anyway?

It's fine to drive with one foot or two feet as long as you're comfortable and driving safely.

 

[Master Mason]

The only time I drive with 2 feet is if I am driving a manual transmission car.

 

[Michelle67]

One foot for an automatic. Two feet for a manual transmission--I haven't quite figured out how to push the clutch and the gas at the same time with only one foot.

When I learned to drive, they were quite insistent that you should only use one foot--I have no idea why.

Probably because a lot of people who drive with both feet don't get their foot all the way off one pedal before pushing on the other (or drive around with the left foot resting on the brake so it drags on the brakes and drives the people behind them buggywonkers trying to determine when or if they are actually going to suddenly stop) and end up messing up either the go parts or the stop parts of the car.

Up until August I drove with two feet...because I had a manual transmission. Now I'm back to a one footer car.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I drive one-footed and usually without a shoe on that foot. Yes..I'm weird but that's how I learned to drive. My grandmother was the same way..she refused to wear shoes while driving.

 

[BillSears]

None. You needed an Other option.

Since I'm a paraplegic I use hand-controls.

 

[imabrat]

I'm starting to toy around with my mom's car. I can't get my permit for another 5 months, so all I'm doing is starting the car and then going maybe 3 feet in the drive way before freaking out, LOL!

Right now, I feel comfortable with two feet. But hey, as time goes on, it'll probably change.

 

[Angelhalo]

I drive an automatic and use one foot. Thats how we were taught in driver's ed because two feet is more dangerous in an emergency situtation.

 

[C.Ann]

One.. Why would anyone drive with two - unless they were driving a standard?

 

[Michelle67]

None. You needed an Other option.

Since I'm a paraplegic I use hand-controls.

I used to work for a quadroplegic veteran. VA sent him to a class to learn to drive with a little joystick. It was such a huge freedom for him when he finally got his van converted.

 

[disykat]

I'm surprised they'd pass someone for the license test driving with two feet.

I was always told that in an emergency situation you want to choose one pedal, which you will do automatically if you drive with one foot. If you had your foot on both, you'd press both, pretty much guaranteeing you'll lose control of the vehicle.

 

[Charade]

My husband drives with two. I tried it once and almost put myself right through the windshield.