Is the Right Side the Brake or the Accelerator?
4 Answers
Left is the brake, right is the accelerator. Here are some tips for using the brake and accelerator: 1. Mnemonic: "Left brake, right accelerator." Drivers should firmly remember that the left is the brake and the right is the accelerator, forming a solid concept in their minds. 2. Heel placement under the brake. Place your heel directly below the brake pedal so that in an emergency, you can brake promptly. 3. "Press the accelerator diagonally, press the brake straight." With your heel positioned directly below the brake pedal, press the brake vertically downward. Since the accelerator is to the right of the brake, when your heel remains stationary, moving your toes to the right means pressing the accelerator diagonally. 4. Rest your foot on the brake when idle. When not pressing the accelerator, keep your foot on the brake pedal, ready to brake at any moment. If your foot is placed near the accelerator, panic may lead to accidental pressing.
When I first got my driver's license, I often got confused too. While driving, your right foot controls two pedals: the one on the right is the accelerator, pressing it makes the car speed up, and when cruising on the highway, your foot rests here lightly to maintain speed. The one immediately to the left is the brake pedal, used to stop the car in emergencies or at red lights. Nowadays, many cars have particularly wide brake pedals to prevent accidental acceleration if you press the wrong one. Also, a reminder: never follow some people's habit of using the left foot for braking – it slows reaction time in emergencies and makes it easy to press both pedals simultaneously. Developing the habit of using only your right foot to switch between pedals is the safest approach.
I learned this lesson the hard way. Last week, when my novice neighbor driver mistook the accelerator for the brake and plowed through the green belt, I specifically looked it up: whether it's an automatic or manual transmission, the standard layout inside the car is the brake on the left and the accelerator on the right. The difference is that manual transmissions have an extra clutch pedal on the far left, but the brake position remains the same. Actually, identifying them is quite simple—the brake pedal is significantly higher than the accelerator and has anti-slip textures on the surface. Just sit down and feel around with your feet; the much higher one is definitely the brake. Also, many cars now come with a misacceleration prevention system, which will immediately cut off power if you press the wrong pedal. However, don’t rely too much on electronic devices.
When a friend picks you up by car, you can glance down at the driver's foot position. In a typical family sedan, counting from the door towards the center console: the first pedal is the clutch (only in manual transmissions), the one directly below the steering wheel is always the brake pedal, and the one on the right closer to the passenger seat is the accelerator pedal. If you're still unsure, here's a tip: the pedal with a rubber anti-slip pad is usually the brake, while the accelerator pedal tends to have more exposed metal. Be especially careful when maneuvering in parking lots. I recommend new drivers wear thin-soled sneakers for better pedal height perception.
