Left-foot braking
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2008-06-15T04:07:51Z
Ankurdave
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/* Manoeuvring with automatic transmission */ fixed misspelled word
{{Original research|article|date=September 2007}}
'''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.<ref>[http://www.team-oneil.com/press4.htm Team O'Neil Rally School & Car Control Center | Press<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It contrasts with the normal practice of the left foot operating the clutch pedal, and the right foot operating the brake and accelerator pedals.
At its most basic purpose, left-foot braking can be used to decrease the time spent between the right foot moving between the brake and throttle pedals, and can also be used to control [[load transfer]].<ref>[http://www.team-oneil.com/press4.htm Team O'Neil Rally School & Car Control Center | Press<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
It is most commonly used in [[auto racing]], but is also used by some drivers for use with an [[automatic transmission]], as the left foot is not needed to operate a clutch pedal.
==Racing and rallying==
[[Kart]]s, many [[open wheel car|open wheelers]], and some modern road cars (cars that are mounted with [[automatic transmission]] or [[semi-automatic transmission]] which is the [[Formula One]] style gear box), have no foot-operated clutch, and so allow the driver to use their left foot to brake.
One common race situation that requires left-foot braking is when a racer is cornering under power. If the driver doesn't want to lift off the throttle, potentially causing [[trailing-throttle oversteer]], left-foot braking can induce a mild [[oversteer]] situation, and help the car "tuck," or turn-in better. Mild left-foot braking can also help reduce [[understeer]].<ref>[http://www.rallyracingnews.com/lfb.html Left Foot Braking In Front Wheel Drive, Rally Racing News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In [[rallying]] left-foot braking is very beneficial, especially to [[front-wheel drive]] vehicles.<ref>{{Citation
|url=http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/motorsports/0109scc_hyundai_tiburon_rally_car/
|title=We join the reigning champion team...and drive the junior car
|author=Dave Coleman
|publisher=sportcompactcarweb.com
|accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref><ref>{{Citation
|url=http://www.suzuki.fr/pages/PDF_Brochure/RallyTalk-2-2005.pdf
|title=How to left foot brake
|page=5
|publication=Rally Talk
|format=pdf
|issue=2
|month=February
|year=2005
|accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref> It is closely related to the [[handbrake turn]], but involves locking the rear wheels using the foot brake (retarding actually, to reduce traction, rarely fully locking - best considered a misapplication), which is set up to apply a significant pressure bias to the rear brakes. The vehicle is balanced using engine power by use of the accelerator pedal, operated by the right foot. The left foot is thus brought into play to operate the brake. It is not as necessary to use this technique with [[Rear-wheel drive]] and [[All wheel drive]] rally vehicles because they can be easily turned rapidly by using excess power to the wheels and the use of [[opposite lock]] steering, however the technique is still beneficial when the driver needs to decelerate and slide at the same time. In rear wheel drive, left foot braking can be used when the car is at opposite lock and about to spin. Using throttle and brake will lock the front tires but not the rears, thus giving the rears more traction and bringing the front end around.
Swedish rally legends [[Erik Carlsson]] and [[Stig Blomqvist]] are considered to be the inventors of left-foot braking, developing it while driving for the [[SAAB]] works team in the 1960s and '70s.
When left foot braking is used to apply the brake and the throttle at the same time it is very hard on the car, causing extra wear on the transmission and brakes in particular.<ref>{{Citation
|url=http://www.rallycars.com/Cars/bangbang.html
|title=How the turbo Anti-Lag System works
|publisher=rallycars.com
|accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref>
This technique should not be confused with [[heel-and-toe]], another driving technique. But for all that there are a few drivers who can do even both in combination.
==Road use==
Many commentators advise against the use of left-foot braking while driving on public roads.<ref name="faq">{{Citation
|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070429201355/http://www.driving-school.com.au/faq.htm
|title=Frequently asked question: Why can’t I use the left foot for braking in an automatic car?
|publisher=driving-school.com.au
|accessdate=2007-10-10}} (from internet archive)</ref><ref name="Ripley">{{Cite web
|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2001/05/12/emrip12.xml
|title=Ask Ripley
|publisher=The Daily Telegraph
|quote= It is true that some drivers with automatic gearboxes use left-foot braking to good effect but, as a general rule, it is difficult to achieve the necessary sensitivity to brake smoothly when your left foot is used to operating a clutch pedal.
|month=May
|year=2001
|accessdate=2007-10-10
}}</ref>
In emergency braking situations, it is common for the driver to extend both legs in a panic reaction. If the right foot is on the throttle, this will cause unwanted and potentially dangerous acceleration.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
Most manufacturers of cars with automatic transmissions provide the car with a rest for the driver's left foot so the right foot may be used exclusively for throttle and braking.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
Also, when the left foot is often used for depressing the clutch pedal this generally requires more force than operating the brake. A driver accustomed to applying this amount of force may unexpectedly slow down to an unsafe speed when attempting to use the left-foot braking technique.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
In addition, many modern vehicles use a "Drive By Wire" or [[Electronic throttle control]] system instead of the traditional mechanical throttle linkage. These systems have a safety [[interlock]] that prevents left foot braking. The car's [[Engine Control Unit|ECU]] can detect when both pedals are pressed simultaneously and will immediately cut the engine power for safety reasons.{{fact|date=January 2008}}
In vehicles equipped with a hydraulic braking system applying throttle with the gearbox in neutral can provide more pressure to the brakes, effectively increasing their performance. This increase in hydraulic pressure must be taken in consideration when estimating the braking force necessary.
== Maneuvering with automatic transmission ==
However, some commentators do recommend left-foot braking as routine practise when driving vehicles fitted with an automatic transmission, when manoeuvring at low speeds. (See, for example, [[The Daily Telegraph]] columnist "Honest John").<ref name="HonestJohn">{{cite web
|title = Driving automatics safely: Why do you repeatedly advocate left foot braking of automatic cars?
|url = http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/faq.htm?id=15
|publisher = HonestJohn.co.uk
|accessdate = 2007-10-11
}}</ref>
Proponents of the technique note that in low-speed manoeuvres, a driver of a vehicle with a manual transmission will usually keep a foot poised over the clutch pedal, ready to disengage power when the vehicle nears an obstacle. This means that disengagement is also possible in the event of malfunction such as an engine surge. However, the absence of a clutch on a vehicle with automatic transmission means that there is no such safety override, unless the driver has a foot poised over the brake pedal.<ref name="HonestJohn" />
Critics of the technique suggest that it can cause confusion when switching to or from a vehicle with a manual transmission,<ref name="faq" /> and that it is difficult to achieve the necessary sensitivity to brake smoothly when your left foot is used to operating a clutch pedal.<ref name="Ripley" />
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{Citation
|title=Speed Secrets: Professional Race Driving Techniques
|author=Ross Bentley
|isbn=0-7603-0518-8}}
* {{Citation
|title=Secrets of Solo Racing: Expert Techniques for Autocrossing and Time Trials
|author=Henry A. Watts
|isbn=0-9620573-1-2}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.240edge.com/performance/tuning-brakes.html Brake Bias Adjustment in Race Car Setups]
[[Category:Driving techniques]]
[[es:Freno de pie izquierdo]]
[[ja:左足ブレーキ]]