onlinegenie wrote:Most people are right-footed and so can exert more strength with their right foot if they need to brake firmly in an emergency. I don't know if that's the reason - it's the only thing I can think of!
Using the left foot to brake can lead a driver to constantly have the brakes applied against the engine, so you are in effect and without noticing burning down your brakes and brake lights.
Now, consider emergency braking. Yes, we should be observant drivers but things can happen which might force us to emergency braking. Left foot braking might shave the (quite short) period of time taken to transition between pedals, but it costs in several other respects.
For one, you cannot press against the footrest to the left which helps apply the brakes more rapidly, and helps keep the weight of the body off of the steering wheel so you can use it. Not a problem in a race car with harnesses, but a problem all together in a road car.
Also, a driver might as well push both pedals at once. And yes, the brakes are stronger than the engine by several orders of magnitude, but your braking distance will be longer.
Now, I do use left foot braking on the road (albeit little) and otherwise, but not simply out of having the same number of feet to match the pedals, but as a deliberate application...