Why shouldn't you use both feet when driving an automatic car?

Car manufacturers recommend that automatic drivers should only use their right foot to step on the accelerator and brake, and their left foot should rest. However, many drivers have the habit of using their left foot to step on the brake and their right foot to step on the accelerator. This is a very harmful habit, with a high risk of causing serious traffic accidents, so it should be eliminated immediately.

There are two main reasons why manufacturers and experts recommend that drivers should not use both feet when driving an automatic car, but should only use the right foot:

First is the design of the car:On automatic cars, the accelerator and brake pedals are designed to be offset to the right. Therefore, when driving, if the driver uses the left foot, it is incorrect posture, and may cause twisting of the body and spinal curvature while driving.

Second, in terms of operation:Using both feet when driving an automatic car can easily lead to pressing both the gas and the brake at the same time while driving on the road. This habit of the driver causes the brakes to work continuously, easily becoming hot and losing their effectiveness. In addition, this is also the cause of reduced vehicle performance and increased fuel consumption.

More importantly, if you use both feet when driving an automatic car, in unexpected situations, the driver will reflexively step on both feet, reducing the ability to stop the car, and the risk of an accident is therefore very high.

What are the situations that can easily lead to mistakenly pressing the gas pedal?

One of the most common situations where a driver accidentally steps on the gas pedal is when they are caught in an unexpected situation in a narrow space. For example, when the driver is trying to accelerate quickly to overtake another vehicle but the space is limited by oncoming vehicles, the left or right median strip.

In addition, other situations that can easily lead to mistaking the brake pedal for the accelerator pedal are when the driver is in a traffic jam, the car is running slowly, idling to roll, or reversing into a parking space. These are all situations that can easily lead to mistaking the accelerator pedal when driving an automatic car.

How to avoid stepping on the gas pedal by mistake?

To avoid accidentally stepping on the gas pedal when driving an automatic car, there are two decisive conditions that must be followed: Keep your mind alert and practice the habit of "never resting your right foot".

Accordingly, once behind the wheel, the driver needs to ensure that his health is in the best condition, without fatigue or pain in parts such as the legs, arms, shoulders or back. In particular, absolutely do not use alcohol, beer, or stimulants that cause excessive nervous excitement.

The next condition is to practice the mechanism of using the foot flexibly, not letting the right foot stay on the brake pedal or gas pedal for too long. Changing the position of the foot will help avoid numbness, helping the brain make more accurate decisions. For example, when driving for a long time on the highway, instead of keeping the foot on the gas pedal, sometimes you should take your foot off, rotate the heel back and forth to give the foot a feeling.

Principles of driving

Feet do not leave the floor

Keep your feet on the floor and use only the brake pedal to control the accelerator and brake. The heel should be in line with the brake pedal, using only the ball of the foot to move back and forth. This will avoid confusion and allow you to adjust the accelerator and brake force while driving.

Take your foot off the gas - apply your foot to the brake

Practicing the habit of taking your foot off the gas and applying the brake will help the driver always be ready to brake instead of pressing the gas.

Regarding foot placement skills when driving, experts say that placing your feet in a V shape will help you operate most comfortably and safely. However, you need to be careful in cases of sudden braking. Some drivers have the habit of turning their heels to brake, but this gesture can be dangerous in cases where the brake and accelerator pedals are parallel and close together. At that time, the foot is mostly on the brake but still has a small part of the accelerator, causing the brake to lose its effect.

To overcome this problem with cars that have the brake and accelerator pedals parallel and close together, you need to get into the habit of lifting your foot completely and pressing it straight when braking suddenly. The geometric arrangement between the driver's seat and the accelerator pedal helps the driver always press the brake pedal if the right foot is pressed straight and hard.

Last but not least, when driving an automatic car, it is important to always follow the speed limit. The maximum speed limit on each road section is calculated based on many factors, helping to ensure enough space and terrain for the driver to react quickly and accurately when an incident occurs.