Why is braking more effective when using the left foot?

Question

I drive a Maruti 800 car.

I noticed that if I suddenly use the left foot and push the brake pedal, the car stops instantly. But, if I do it with the right foot, the response of the brake is not as sharp as with the left.

I tried it several times. The left foot always works better with the brake especially for sudden braking. Why is that?

Answer 1

because the left foot is more centered with the brake to apply a more centered application rather that the right which is offset due to peddle design and placement

Answer 2

Sheesh, what a bunch of goofy answers.  This is actually pretty simple.  It all boils down to muscle memory.

When you use your right foot, you're primarily using you calf muscles to change the angle of your ankle, which moves the accelerator pedal in small increments.  When you push the clutch pedal with your left foot, you're primarily using thigh and hip muscles, and applying more force to achieve clutch disengagement quickly.  

As a result, your right foot tends to involve calf muscles and slower application of pressure to the brake pedal.  Your left leg attempts to "push in the clutch" when it's doing the braking.

There is no difference in how the car reacts to your feet, only to the application of pressure to the brake pedal.  Try using only your right thigh muscles when braking.  place your heel on the brake pad, not the ball of your foot.  This will take your ankle and calf out of the equation and your thigh will do all the work.  Your stop will be much more like when your left leg brakes.

Answer 3

I think you have learnt a wrong braking practise! while braking with right foot your foot is off the accelerator pedal to bring down the engine speed & at the same time if you depress the clutch pedal(wrong practice) you fail to use the engine to give additional braking torque. You are supposed to depress the clutch pedal only after reaching a near halt. This essential sequence is automatically achived when you use your RIGHT foot for braking. This is true for floor shift gear cars and auto transaxle cars without clutch pedal.

You may also override this safety feature by depressing the accelerator pedal while braking with your left foot. Technically the brake system has no sensor for left or right for your superstitious faiths if any!

Answer 4

You must be a right hander. Your right leg is more attuned to pressing the accelerator gently, your leg feels the speed. Whereas your left leg is more about flooring the clutch and releasing it on time. So that exactly what you do when you use your let leg to brake... you just floor the brake pedals!!

@John Paul,

Atleast that 800cc "put, put" isn't a gas guzzling roadster!!. Its a lot more efficient, even with the A/c on!

Answer 5

if your right handed you are right footed so you dont really have much control of you left hand and foot

Answer 6

So you say if you open the door and put out your left foot the car stops better?  800cc car? In America you would be blown off the highway. Left or right foot the brake system has not changed. Left foot braking after the downshift into the turn then being able to get back to throttle sooner on the race track can be helpfull on turns. But a 800cc car? When you turn on the A/C does it go in reverse?  Population density in your country and road use taxes make you drive little put put cars around.

Answer 7

I don't see how there could possibly be a difference.

Answer 8

You must be right-handed and footed.  Your right foot is used to pressing the gas, so it is trained to be gentle.  Your left foot is either not doing anything or is pressing the clutch.  Either way, it is not trained to be gentle.

Answer 9

Because the right foot controls both accelerator and brake and has a more sensitive feel to it,whereas the left foot is idle The left foot doesnt work better but you actualy press harder as you dont have the same finite control over it