KEY POINTS:
The phrase "left foot braking" is appearing in the media more and more of late. Most people understand that you use your left foot on the brake, but not why.
If you are going to practise this technique, ensure it is in a safe environment and away from other cars (a race track or an open field is best). Because people are used to punching a clutch pedal in, the first time they attempt left-foot braking the car usually ends up standing on its nose and the driver's head on the steering wheel. Braking with the left foot requires the same amount of finesse as braking with the right foot.
No matter how hard you try, you'll find the pressure is still too hard, you'll forget to release the pedal and shudder to a halt. When you do remember to release the brake pedal, do it progressively.
Practise this gentle touch on the brake on an open road away from traffic. Now, find an empty car park, put the car in neutral and try to bring the car to a halt. The unconscious reaction to keep the pressure on until the car stops will still be evident as the car comes to an abrupt halt.
When braking with the right foot, we subconsciously release brake pressure as the car comes to a stop and, by the time the car has stopped, there is hardly any foot pressure on the brake.
It'll take a bit of practise to get the feel with the left foot, especially the release to keep the car balanced. Again, do not practise this on a public road until you've got it down pat, because, at some stage, you're going to get mixed up and instead of pressing the brake pedal, you'll hit the accelerator and rear-end the car in front.
To make use of left-foot braking, you need to control the throttle at the same time. So, on an empty straight road, slip the car into neutral, left foot brake and blip the throttle repeatedly to get the feel.
Once you're comfortable doing this, try applying pressure to the throttle while left-foot braking, to get a feel for how the car reacts.
Knowing when not to put the brakes on
Easy corners
Left-foot brake all the way into the apex, with the right foot hovering over the accelerator, cuts down on the delays of accelerating smoothly out of the corner.
Slower corners
With your left foot already over the brake, you can adjust the speed of the car more rapidly to the corner's aspect and react more quickly to any unforeseen apex changes.
Medium-speed corners
With most modern road cars, improved handling plus a little drag on the brakes makes corner entry faster and more accurate.
Press lightly on the brake to improve the poise of the car.
Fast corners
A dab on the brakes keeps the engine pulling and is better than lifting off the throttle (particularly if the car has carburettors).
Fast corners
With softly sprung road cars in fast bends, going from braking to accelerating upsets the car.
You can balance the car by using the throttle and brake together.
On the way in apply the brakes and keep the throttle down.
Release the throttle more and apply more brakes to slow and balance the car - never lift of the throttle completely. Accelerate at the apex, keeping some brake on, only releasing when the car is balanced.
Gear-change corners
Left-foot brake all the way into the apex and blip right foot to change gear (only works in higher gears, third to second is trickier) and get back on throttle.
Unknown corners
Normally only done on rally or race tracks. Charging around unfamiliar corners with the left poised over the brake either allows for a dab on the brakes to improve turn in, sheds speed or allows the car to come to a complete stop quickly.
Left-foot braking is better in emergencies if the foot is already covering the brakes, a heavy tug on the gear lever puts the engine into neutral while the left foot is already braking. All in all, if executed well, left-foot braking can make for safer driving in a better balanced car.
