I started left foot braking 10 years ago, never looked back. Manual and auto. Its a much quicker way to bring a car to a stop, illuminates the transition from accelerator pedal to brake pedal. Learnt this from years of rallying. Good vid.

Good video! As i mentioned in previous comments, one of the biggest advantages with LFB is actually when you mess up........ In the ideal world, we'd set our speed perfectly on the entry to every corner, and accelerate all the way around. Lovely smooth like. But in the real world, well, shit happens! Perhaps you've miss judged the corner a bit and you haven't quite lost enough speed. Perhaps as you have rounded the turn you've now been able to see an obstruction or feature that actually needs to you to loose quite a bit of speed. Perhaps you've got halfway around and the road surface has become a bit like a dirt track, with undulations, pot holes, wet leaves, gravel, anything really that means you would like to be going say 5 mph slower. If you LFB, that adjustment is pretty much seamless. The car does't dive, the drive train doesn't shut, you just quietly scrub off the speed with a bit more brake pedal pressure. This is really nice for any passengers, because it feels like the car has just slowed without any real sensation or sudden accel. And of course, if the worst comes to the worst and you do need to do a ful threshold brake (emergency stop) if you can do that with your left foot, then you're already halfway there. It might not sound much, but 0.1 second at 60 mph is a distance of about 2.5 meters. Add in at least another 0.1 sec because you have already "pumped" the brake system up, and you could reduce you stopping distance by 5m! That might just make the difference one day....... If you drive a powerful car, and especially one without traction control and a limited slip diff, LFB also allows the driver to absorb any excess drive axle torque in the brakes, without lifting. We all know (or should know how to feel and recognise) that slightly disconcerting feeling when a tyre starts to slip significantly. Often with a change in tyre noise, oftem with a slightly floating feeling as the suspension unloads laterally as the tyre slips. If you LFB, at this point, rather than jump suddenly and clumbsly off the accelerator with a jerk, just press a bit harder on the brake and the brakes will "swallow" the excess torque, tyre slip with fall, and grip will return in a lovely smooth way. Much less danger of any tankslapper or similar too being set off by lifting off too much! A modern car, that has been designed, and setup to be able to be driven with LFB is REALLY nice to drive in that way, as you find with your M2 :-) RE: VW's et-al not allowing LFB, there is even on the most party pooping models usually a throttle position and duration threshold below which you can leave the throttle applied whilst braking and not trip the safety throttle cut. Usually that is juuust enough to be able to keep a tiny bit of positive torque on, and so avoid the worst drivetrain shuffle from lifting into the negative torque regio, so try with as little as 10% throttle applied.

Hats off to you Reg. Many advanced police drivers I've known have dismissed LFB without taking the trouble to learn how to do it. I like LFB in autos for two reasons. It improves the transition from braking to accelerating as it allows for it to be blended. The other reason is based on extra safety. Except for more open or longer curves the most time critical control you might need is the brake. Having the foot already on the brake and braking can save valuable yards that can make all the difference. The same can be said for heel n toe in a manual.I've found with VWs that whilst braking the revs are limited to a low level but its not an issue as progressively easing of the brake allows for more progressive throttle response so you can blend in the power as you ease off the brake. Ease up on the brake pedal and at the same time squeeze down on the throttle pedal.Very satisfying for a seamless drive, better handling, pace and safety. What's not to love?

It can't be underestimated the bizarre sensation when you left foot brake the first time. I came to an almost complete stop and felt like i couldn't release my foot from the brake pedal.

Couple of tips that helped me . When using the clutch the movement starts from the knee. When using the brake movement starts from the ankle. Try using both feet on the brake with your left foot trying to mimic the right, especially when trying to be smooth around town. Helps your left learn the correct sensitivity.

I drive a manual, so the first time I tried this, not only did I, as you say almost stand the car on its nose, I also instinctively went for the gear stick, a' la heel-toe and put my car in neutral. 🤣 I can do it properly now though and it's great for trail-braking. Awesome vid, John.

Reg. I've only found you recently and have been consuming your vids at pace since. I went through the IAM process 30-odd years ago. I didn't take the final test as my instructor said I was ready, which was good enough for me. I started LFB at least 30 years ago and today I cannot conceive of driving safely any other way, so I was properly excited to come across this video showing a positive application outside the world of motorsport (which is where I picked it up from). A couple of observations / questions from me in relation to your video: Learning is tricky and embarrassing - even on your own on the road - so keep your eyes peeled more than usual. Quite different applications in FWD / AWD / RWD vehicles but for all types it allows you to create a delightful (Reg - "it feels great") balance into/during/out of a bend providing you either maintain a single gear (usually fine on the road), learn clutchless (I never do this in a car I own anymore!) or can afford a posh DSG or equivalent (cheating!). I have driven trillions of mechanically sympathetic miles in turbo-charged AWD vehicles for over 25 years and LFB is priceless in maintaining good, safe progress on A&B roads - just makes it all smoother, balanced and removes almost all lag. One question I do have - you said that there is no advantage on single track roads. That is where I have found the most impressive advantage. Where I live, there are many miles of single track roads before I see a white line. Horses, cyclists, walkers, sheep, cows, foxes, voles, ferrets and mad motorbikes abound. My left foot is always at 'rest' above the brake pedal and LFB dramatically reduces stopping distances even at much slower speeds. I have lost count of the amount of smiles/comments I have had from e.g. passengers, horse-riders over the years - "how did you stop like that?" I have had so many occasions where an oncoming car has eventually slithered to a halt when I have already stopped many metres from what would otherwise have been a collision point. In a manual, you do have to learn to knock the stick into neutral before you stall though (cue Engineers crying). But - and it's a big but - you have to be hyper-aware of anyone behind you at all times, but this is a good habit to get into anyway. Your stopping distances are so short that you need to take their reaction time + time to brake pedal into account and modulate your pedal pressure accordingly. Sorry for the long ramble, but I am an absolute LFB evangelist. BUT I have only ever recommended it to one person as a road technique, someone who I knew would learn and use it safely. Given the current driving techniques taught to learners, it is completely counter-intuitive and risky to learn. My leg muscles these days allow me to comfortably 'rest' my left foot above the brake as default on all roads except the clearest, straightest motorway. I know the 'movement' phase of the braking sequence is not considered consequential - but there is huge safety potential to be had in that margin. I'd love it to become part of the normal driving system - like steering or clutch control - but I doubt it. Pity, as the right application of this technique could save lives. Clearly, I've focussed on the application of LFB in (my) driving to Tesco; the advantages in 'making good progress' would require another whole ramble and I'm sure I've already taken up too much of your time. Thanks. P.S. I tried to find the 'LFB in a manual' vid you hinted at, can't find it?

A very worthwhile exercise to get used to braking with the left. Also useful off-road particularly in vehicles with very simple 4x4 transmissions. to maintain traction by preventing wheelspin with an open diff.

I've been waiting for this video for a long time. I practice left foot braking on my manual car.

Reg I found this subject very interesting on what was a mystery to me trying to understand why you would ever brake with the accelerator on. Brilliant explanation. Thanks 👍

I've tried left foot braking over the years to see if I could train my left foot to be sensitive enough to do it. Not because of a driving advantage, but because I wanted to experiment whether I'd still be able to drive if I lost my right leg for some reason. However I came across a problem in my cars - a BMW and a Porsche, both 6-speed manuals. If you apply the brakes while still accelerating, the car will cut the engine power after a second or two of brake application. I haven't experimented to see if they still do this with the stability controls switched off, but it's definitely there even in sport or sport+ modes in the Porsche. It's frustrated my attempts to learn left foot braking.

One benefit from left foot breaking is that you will avoid accidents by stopping your vehicle faster then other drivers. You will also have fewer traffic tickets.

Another great video. Some rwd cars seem to turn-in a bit sharper/smoother with a bit of left foot braking while on the accelerator too. But have to be aware that on a lot of cars that have electronic throttle body's the electronics (ECU) will back off the throttle (as though the driver lifted off the throttle completely and very sharply) after a couple of seconds of simultaneous brakes and throttle application..

Came to this video via link from Chapter 48 of Advanced & Performance Driving (2nd edition). Yes, I was rereading it! It's that kind of a book. Observation: I can see the potentially significant advantage in LFB for a turbocharged car, by keeping the turbo on song so avoiding turbo lag. However, I drive a supercharged Jaguar so I am guessing the benefit might not be so significant. Still worth considering, to keep the drive going. Question: does LFB not increase the wear on brake pads?

Great video, and really glad you have had a go at that and decided to keep using. Also thanks to Max. Older auto's tended to have a larger brake pedal which would give you more options e.g. in estop conditions. Would be interested once it is all second nature how you might drive through a series of roundabouts. You have me worried now if I used the left foot on the advanced test. One other use might be sitting at the head of stationary queue at pelican crossing in neutral, handbrake on. Last pedestrian runs across. Any issue if I press the brake with the left foot for extra improvement to the anchors in case I get rammed. That does come from the bad habit of using the left as a handbrake when I had an automatic handbrake (Now gladly back to a real handbrake which I use correctly, but the left foot wants to help out driving the car). Oh and thanks for great scenary. May be closest I get to a holiday. Look forward to next one

So are we talking about “trail” braking similar to that technique of braking on a motorbike in a corner? Load the front wheel, and have some positive tension between brake and throttle?

Great video Reg, the brakes can do so much more than just slow the car down. Can we have some trail braking into hairpin corners next? Not aggressively but just enough to help the car turn in. Good point about the VAG group cars too.

Not tried left foot braking in an automatic (DSG) yet as it's taken me long enough to get used to only 2 pedals (muscle memory is a powerful thing). Used to do it often in manual cars and it's nice (apart from the first time when I locked all the wheels up. lol) I think the safety issue with brake and accelerator at the same time is to ensure that there's enough vacuum for the brake servo if the accelerator / throttle butterfly is fully open.

>like most people they go through the windscreen. Yeah I made that mistake, smashed the wheel into my chest, lovely big bruise haha. Great channel Reg. Had a friend once teach me some advance techniques.

The first time I tried left foot braking was test driving a 1975 Oldsmobile Omega with an automatic transmission. I thought I was being clever but even though it was a ‘70s Yank tank it “stopped on a dime”. I learned my lesson and I didn’t buy the car, despite having a 5.7 litre engine that sounded amazing it was slow to say the least. I’ve taught myself since but not sure it’s ever really appropriate on the public road at least in a three pedal car, the benefits are more apparent in a two pedal/flappy paddle vehicle.. Great video as always though.

IMO left foot braking is only useful on the road to aid traction whilst accelerating in a FWD car. I think it was Chris Harris who I first saw doing this in an old focus RS. Apart from that I personally think it’s a waste of time on the road and only comes into its own when you wear a full harness on track which allows you to really focus on your foot movement. That’s my experience with it anyway, I’m sure others will disagree..

Left foot braking is really beneficial on FWD cars, you should consider making a video on left foot braking on a manual FWD too.

Funnily enough the only time I've ever used Left foot breaking is when driving in the Highlands.

I don't know what I talking about, but... If you keep the throttle open whilst braking you have to overcome an "on-it" engine as well as the momentum of the car. In a big grunty diesel you could be asking your brakes to do a LOT of totally unnecessary work. How can you not? If you do this in every corner, you are surely going to have pretty hot discs/pads and chew thru 'em pretty quick. Also, with "conventional braking", the ECU will cut the fuel injectors when you lift off the accelerator (& so not use any fuel whilst slowing). By keeping the throttle wide open, the car will keep dumping fuel into the engine - so this technique will waste a load more fuel as well. I would imagine LFB trains your brain to get "confused" in an emergency. You might have decades of driving experience crafting perfect braking reflexes/muscle memory. And then you train yourself to apply LFB some of the time... How do you then think you might then reflexively respond when your life depended on it? Makes any sense for the road? Dunno... Unless you want to impress/bore people down the pub ;-)

Easiest way I've learned to left foot brake is to drive with no shoes on. It taught me better feel and placement. I've trying to figure this out and from the videos I've watched none mention the left foot placement on the pedal which is more preference than anything but I was struggling b/c it was hurting my inner left groining or left inner thigh.

It's not for every vehicle; most sophisticated diesels cut the injection when the brake is applied, but like heeling/and-toeing, it's a tool in the box. Thanks Reg.

Now, I agree with you for most of this, but totally disagree about using it on the road. I've been messing about on simple karts for years, and of course you have to lfb on these and need to do it with a bit of finesse. I've tried it on the road in manuals and automatics, and yes, it's a good feeling to shoot out of a bend. Big but is if an unexpected emergency brake is needed, by the time I'd sorted my feet out I'd have hit something even if I was driving my automatic, because as you said, my response would be use with right foot.

Using engine braking under heavy braking is good, no real downsides for fast road/track work. Trial braking is drastically more beneficial for FWD and AWD cars mid-corner to shift weight and maintain traction to reduce understeer

Here's an advantage you might not have considered: some modern poorly designed PCV's (Volvo B7900) that have automatic gearboxes that auto neutralise, and retarders that snatch and give passengers an uncomfortable ride. I don't work for the bus company anymore so I'm not worried about getting sacked for what I'm about to type: • Some modern buses have software that neutralises the gears at certain low speeds which can takeaway the ability of the driver to precisely and smoothly creep in traffic: just touching the accelerator without actually applying power cancels the auto neutral so you don't have to pulse along the road. • Why do bus drivers jag the brakes rather than apply them progressively? because they can't! Some buses have retarders integrated with the brakes and they are switch activated by the brake pedal before the airbrakes come on which makes it feels like the driver is just an idiot. If you can just touch the accelerator when starting to brake you can smoothly and progressively get the airbrakes on then release the accelerator pedal to activate the retarder when 'you' are ready for it; the result is a nice smooth speed reduction and compliments form your passengers when they get of the bus. • Pulling off from a stand when the modern bus has auto neutralised gives a noticeable jolt so you can reconfigure the bus as a traditional automatic with creep buy putting a little power on with the brake pedal still depressed and then smoothly take the brakes of now that you have forced the bus back into drive. I got a lot of nice smooth driving compliments from my passengers. Nice video Reg!

I'll maybe not try this on my driving course... We'll save this for September when I'm out with you next.

I can’t help wondering what the consequences, if any, will be to wear and tear on the car. Brake pads/disks, and also clutch plates. I guess time will tell!

What's the point though?

First time I tried braking with my left foot, I got seat belt bruises.

@5:27 Speak for yourself 😂

Unfortunately, I totally disagree with 99% of the statements you made Reg. Keeping the accelerator pressed while left foot braking is a bad idea, will burn the clutch out and overheat the brakes causing brake fade at the next corner. Keeping the accelerator depressed then letting go of the brake makes the car shoot off, especially in a turbo car. the stability of the car is a hole tin of worms, trying to accelerate while trying to brake. I've been LFB for over 18 years, and in my experience the best way to LFB is to 'blip' the throttle on downshift then LFB. You can induce a bit of oversteer braking around corners but I don't recommend it, has caused more than 1 lock up forcing me to cadence brake until I'm out of danger.

It's not that effective on RWD cars

Bla Bla. Bla.