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Why can’t you use two feet while driving?

I drove a manual car for years and used my left foot for the clutch and right foot for the gas and brake pedals. I drive an automatic now, and I can’t get used to using just my right foot. Why can’t I use two feet to drive?

avatar
Jason Tushinski · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
There is no legislation outlawing driving with both feet—but there’s plenty of debate between safety experts about whether you should use both feet to drive or not. The main drawback is that you could accidentally press both pedals at once and cause vehicle damage or an accident.
One-foot driving—where you use your right foot for both the gas and brake pedals—came into vogue as automatic transmission cars took over America’s roads. By using only one foot to drive, you negate the risk of pressing both pedals and straining your car’s torque converter, brake, and transmission fluid.
But this creates its own problem: drivers using their right foot to press the wrong pedal and getting into accidents. An estimated 16,000 of these collisions occur every year!
So, what to do? To drive as safely as possible, it is probably best to drive in the way that makes you comfortable. If you’re used to driving with one foot, that’s fine. If you are used to driving with two feet, that’s okay, too. Driving safely is all that matters.
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