Left Foot Brake Pedal and Muliti Clutch Transmissions

Disclaimer:  I've never driven a modern performance automatic transmission.  So, this may already be a thing and I'm just not aware of it.

Seeing the new Lotus reveal and the no manual option on the 4 cylinder started me wondering.  Now that most sports cars are ditching manual transmissions or soon will be, will we ever see a shift in foot pedal placement?  For 100+ years, the gas pedal was on the right, the clutch pedal was on the left and the brake pedal was in the middle.  With the introduction of automatic transmissions, the clutch pedal was removed, but the brake pedal stayed in the same spot.  Probably, because drivers were accustom to accelerating and braking with the same foot.  Manuals were usually an option, so manufacturers had to keep space on the left side for a clutch pedal.

Now with more and more sports cars going to paddle shift and electric cars never needing a clutch, why hasn't someone designed the brake pedal to be used by the left foot and shifted it over to where the clutch pedal would have been?  Is it still the old habit how people have learned to drive?  Modern formula cars and karts have utilized left foot braking for years.  I assume it wouldn't be a big stretch for people to learn.  Hitting both at the same time can be disabled electronically, so that wouldn't be a concern.  Although it would suck if you're trying to trail brake.

Sure, you could left foot brake on any of those cars today, but not without having to angle your left leg to the right. 

For those of you who have driven or regularly drive a paddle shift car, do you still right foot brake?  Have you tried left foot braking and it just doesn't make a huge difference?

Just some random thoughts for hump day.

-Rob

I have been left foot braking manual and automatic equipped cars since I started driving in the early 60s. Many of the cars I drove would stall when cold or due to carburetor problems. As a mechanic left foot braking was used for diagnosing drivability concerns. I always used left foot braking racing a manual equipped dirt track car. In normal driving conditions the left foot is on the dead pedal. 

I've been lucky enough to drive a variety of really great cars with DCTs on track.  Most of them have had stock 3 point seat belts and in those I use my left foot on the dead pedal to lock my body in place.  In cars that have a real harness I left foot brake just like I do in any race car that allows clutchless shifting.  I can't say that I've noticed that the pedal position is awkward for left foot braking in any of them.  Particularly when compared to the contortions sometimes required to heel-toe.