Is the Right Side of an Automatic Transmission the Brake or the Accelerator?
4 Answers
In an automatic transmission, the right side is the accelerator, and the left side of the accelerator is the brake, both controlled by the right foot. During normal driving in an automatic car, the left foot should rest naturally in the left space, while the right foot controls the accelerator and brake. However, there is one situation where both feet are needed simultaneously: during steep hill starts, the left foot can be used to control the brake to prevent the car from rolling backward. An automatic transmission generally refers to the car's automatic gear-shifting mechanism, where the control system of the automatic transmission selects the appropriate gear based on the engine's speed and load, replacing the driver's subjective judgment and manual gear-shifting operations.
As a seasoned driver with ten years of experience, the pedal positions in an automatic transmission are quite straightforward. From left to right: the leftmost pedal is the unused footrest, the large middle one is the brake, and the slender one on the right is the accelerator. When driving, it’s important not to place your feet randomly. Keep your left foot steadily on the footrest, while your right foot should pivot to control the brake and accelerator. A common mistake beginners make is pressing both pedals simultaneously in a panic, which is extremely dangerous! Remember this mantra: press the accelerator gently, apply the brake precisely, and keep your right heel anchored between the accelerator and brake. This way, you can pivot your foot to switch between them.
Just helped a friend by driving their kids around, and the little ones in the back seat were curious about this. Automatic transmissions only have two pedals—the brake is always the one on the left, and the accelerator is on the right. Remembering this ensures you won’t mix them up, just like how the spacebar on a computer keyboard is always centered at the bottom—the brake position is standardized too. From the driver’s seat, a quick glance down shows the brake is noticeably taller and wider, while the accelerator is narrower and lower, with a completely different feel underfoot. Normally, your right foot pivots between the accelerator and brake without needing to lift it off the floor to switch.
The neighbor aunt asked me about this the day before yesterday when she was taking her driving test. Unlike manual transmission cars which have three pedals, automatic transmission cars only have two symmetrically placed pedals on the right side. Taking the steering wheel as a reference, the pedal directly vertically downward in front of the driver is the brake, and the one slightly to the right is the accelerator. Car manufacturers design according to international standards, so the brake is always to the right of the driver's left foot rest pedal, and this layout is consistent across all brands and models. I've driven a Toyota Corolla and a Honda Accord, and the positions of the accelerator and brake are exactly the same.
