raynewman
Active Member
Dunno which part of Australia you or GregHudson are from (your Location doesn't say) but two feet driving of an automatic used to be illegal in Queensland.
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Model S RHD Pedal positioning
- Thread starter doctorwho
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Dborn
Confirmed
When I drove a manual, left foot only ever controlled the clutch. That is how I was taught. An automatic does away with the clutch, so, no biggie, so long as there is somewhere to rest my left foot.
Have tried using left foot on the brake. Extraordinarily awkward, totally non intuitive, and basically I cannot drive like that at all. The clutch did not require fast movements so maybe, for me, a VERY right handed person, is the explanation.
I accept that if you are ambidextrous or left handed, it may be different.
Have tried using left foot on the brake. Extraordinarily awkward, totally non intuitive, and basically I cannot drive like that at all. The clutch did not require fast movements so maybe, for me, a VERY right handed person, is the explanation.
I accept that if you are ambidextrous or left handed, it may be different.
For the last 10 years I've only ever driven my smart Roadster (2 pedals) with both feet. I've never had a true automatic but this has an automatic clutch. Even though my other car has always been a manual, I've never been able to drive a 2 pedal car with only my right foot, like you Dborn it feels really weird!
There is actually no written rule stating that it is illegal (how will the police enforce it?). It's only considered a non critical error when going for your Ps (unless you do it three times then it is a fail). Also I'm from Queensland.
I don't try to convert people from one to two foot driving. Everyone is comfortable with their own driving style and as long as it is safe that is the most important thing. But I just think people should be more open to left foot braking. How many times has someone been in a parking lot and panicked and stomped on the accelerator and run over someone?
All of the arguments against it are only somewhat true for people who try it for the first time but if you have driven with it from the start there is absolutely no disadvantage I have found in three years of driving.
Each to their own I say. I never new it may be illegal. But I have often followed someone who has their foot resting on the brake pedal (brake lights on) and wondered where the liability sat if I was to run into them in an emergency stop, technically they have no working brake lights in this situation.
raynewman
Active Member
I always thought that was particularly stupid - just wasting dollars scraping brake pads off and burning excess fuel at the same time.
Yes, driving with your foot on the brake pedal is pointless and inefficient but its much easier to slide your left foot right from the foot rest to the brake than it is to lift your right foot up, back and left from the accelerator
It is only through technique. If someone drives with their foot holding the brake all the time well that is just their silliness. The left foot braking shouldn't be to blame.
Not questioning your preferred technique, but my accelerator and left foot rest are both on the same plane, and the brake sits forward of that plane. The brake is very close to the accelerator, but a lot further from the left footrest. (Design laws require the brake to sit mostly right of the seat centerline) Hence mathmatically I can't see how you comment about speed and distance could be correct?
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The way I drive, unless I'm on the highway, I hover my left foot about an inch or two above the brake pedal. When I anticipate braking, I rest it on the brake without pressing on it. Then I brake if needed. Then back to hovering. This way, I can't "ride" my brakes. So driving for me is more about pivoting each foot rather than completely moving it for braking or accelerating. So that's why I don't have the speed/distance issue because I don't need transitions.
Driving a Model S is really one-foot driving 90% of the time because you can generally use regen to wash off the majority of your speed. Brake Pedal is only really required when you're coming to a complete stop or need to stop quickly. This makes the brakes last a lot longer, captures the max energy and when you get used to it, it's really awesome.
TesAus
Member
^^^I'm with bb07. I actually like the challenge of dropping off cruise and judging the approach to a junction without needing to brake. (Whilst having my foot hovering in case I do need to brake).
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Dborn
Confirmed
I also agree. Just stating my methods with other vehicles but I would be more than happy to do one foot with Model S. Also love the regen feature. Just hurry up and arrive already! Two weeks can't come quick enough.
Dborn
Confirmed
billarnett
Member
This is perhaps my biggest complaint about my Tesla. That damn alarm is just way to sensitive. I use both feet especially when going very slowly and going between forward and reverse. It's much easier to control the car smoothly by using both feet. But the damn alarm goes off if both pedals are pressed even if only by the tiniest amount, an amount that otherwise has no effect. Please TESLA, give it us a little slack and don't issue the alarm unless there's actually a bit of pressure on both pedals at the same time.
Going from forward to reverse with version 7 no longer requires you to do any braking. The car manages that for you, and it's perfectly smooth. If you are going too fast the car won't change 'gears', so you won't cause any issues trying it out.
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