Which Side is the Brake in an Automatic Transmission?
3 Answers
In automatic transmission models, the left side is the brake, and the right side is the accelerator. Precautions for automatic transmission cars are as follows: 1. The accelerator and brake in an automatic transmission car are relatively simple, with only two pedals located below the driver's seat and the console. From left to right, they are the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal, both controlled solely by the right foot. The gear shift is positioned in front of the center armrest on the right side, easily visible upon entering the car. 2. The main reason for this design is that the accelerator is used more frequently. Placing it on the outer side of the right foot provides a more comfortable posture for the driver. The brake is set on the inner side of the right foot, and the brake pedal is slightly higher than the accelerator pedal.
When I first learned to drive, I was also confused. Now, after three years of commuting by car, I finally understand. An automatic transmission has only two pedals: the wider one on the left, closer to the steering wheel, is the brake, and the narrower one on the right, closer to the door, is the accelerator. When you sit in the driver's seat, keep your right foot flat, with your heel stationary, and tilt your toes slightly to the left to reach the brake. Beginners are most prone to mistakenly pressing the wrong pedal when reversing into a parking space—remember to keep your heel fixed on the floor and sweep your toes to the left to brake, so muscle memory can develop quickly. At red lights, rest your right foot naturally on the brake pedal; forming this habit helps avoid rear-end collisions. On rainy days, the brake pedal can be a bit slippery, so testing it in the garage beforehand is safer.
Last time when teaching my wife to drive, I realized that many people have no idea about the layout of automatic transmission pedals. Simply put: keep the left foot idle, and among the two pedals controlled by the right foot, the one on the left is the brake, and the one on the right is the accelerator. This design is deliberate—the brake has a deeper travel and requires more force, so placing it on the left allows the thigh muscles to exert better force; the accelerator responds to light touches, making the right side more ergonomic. When driving, keep the toes and heel in an L-shape, switching between pedals like drawing an arc with a compass, without lifting the entire foot. In emergencies, pressing the brake with the full foot is the most reliable—never use the left foot to assist, as it can easily lead to mistakes.
