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

Unlike manual transmission cars, automatic transmission cars are designed with only one accelerator pedal and one brake pedal, without a clutch pedal. However, car manufacturers as well as driving training centers recommend that automatic transmission car drivers should only use one foot (right foot) to control the accelerator and brake pedals.

This makes many people who are new to driving or new to automatic cars wonder, why not use both feet to control the accelerator and brake pedals (!?)

In fact, through practical experience and research, there are many reasons why manufacturers and driving training centers recommend that automatic car drivers should only use one foot to control the accelerator and brake pedals.

Firstly, on most current car models, the accelerator and brake pedals are usually placed on the right side. This design is intended to help create a correct and comfortable sitting position for the driver. If both feet are used to press the accelerator and brake pedals when driving an automatic car, the driver may be pushed to one side. Incorrect driving posture can cause the driver to easily develop scoliosis, even leading to injury.

Second, if you use your right foot to accelerate and your left foot to brake, it is easy for the driver to step on the accelerator and brake at the same time. At this time, the rear brake light will turn on, but the car can still move if the force applied to the accelerator and brake pedals is not proportional. This situation is very dangerous for vehicles traveling behind because they cannot know exactly when the car is actually braking.

Third, in an emergency that forces the driver to stop suddenly, the driver may accidentally press the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time, causing the braking distance to be longer than necessary, which may lead to a collision.

According to Mr. Tran Xuan Quyen, a person with many years of experience in training car drivers: "Using both feet when driving an automatic car can easily cause accidents. In unexpected situations, the driver's reflex is to press both feet, but when pressing the accelerator hard, the braking effect will be greatly reduced, the car cannot stop as desired."

To avoid this mistake, when driving an automatic car, "new drivers" should practice the habit of "freeing the left foot", using only the right foot, the heel always placed close to the floor of the car, creating a comfortable position to be able to switch between holding the gas and braking in a V shape.