Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2019 September 14

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September 14

Left foot on an accelerator

When people drive cars, they put their right foot on the accelerator. But in the song Bye Bye, Jo Dee Messina says she puts her left foot on the accelerator. Why?? (The article says nothing about the use of the phrase "left foot" anywhere.) Georgia guy (talk) 20:27, 14 September 2019 (UTC)

Because she has no intention of using her left foot to brake. The other lines make it clear she has no intention of slowing down her car. ""You'll find what's left of us in a cloud of dust on highway 4". --Jayron32 01:25, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

Do right-handers sometimes brake with their left foot? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:59, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

I have heard such a thing claimed by people I wouldn't expect to create a reliable source. HiLo48 (talk) 02:49, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

When I was learning to drive (about 1970), there was disagreement about which foot you should used to brake if you had an automatic transmission. Using the left foot reduced your reaction time, but it also allowed you to accidentally press both pedals at once. --76.69.116.4 (talk) 05:52, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

It is, however, standard practice in racing cars that have clutch paddles on the steering wheel and therefore, like automatic transmission cars, only two pedals. Obviously racing drivers have sufficient training and skill to avoid inappropriate deployments. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.202.210.107 (talk) 08:37, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

I grew up in farmland. Most of the farmers drove with their left foot resting on the brake pedal. The result is that the brake lights blinked now and then as they drove because their foot pressed just enough to get the light to turn on. I tried to explain to them that they were wearing out their brake pads, but there is not arguing with stubborn farmers. 135.84.167.41 (talk) 13:34, 16 September 2019 (UTC)

Incidentally, are the foot pedals reversed in British cars ? SinisterLefty (talk) 03:44, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

No, and they aren't reversed in American cars either. --76.69.116.4 (talk) 05:52, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

Which is kind of a left-handed way of saying the gas pedal corresponds to the driver's right foot, no matter which side of the car the instruments are on. And by the way, many American postal vehicles have the instruments on the right side, for ease of pickup and dropoff at streetside mailboxes. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:40, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

You'd need to have your right leg amputated to get your left foot on the accelerator in my car. DuncanHill (talk) 17:47, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

Must be a mighty cramped car. SinisterLefty (talk) 19:58, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

I would think it's possible even in a Cooper Mini. Not that it would be a good idea. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:57, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

Despite what some online lyrics sites say, I am sure this lyric is actually "lead foot". --Khajidha (talk) 20:17, 18 September 2019 (UTC)

Such sites are about as reliable as IMDb's goofs pages, I reckon. —Tamfang (talk) 20:22, 21 September 2019 (UTC)

It may be my imagination or lack of experience with other genres, but I've seen waaaaaay more mistakes than I would expect with country music lyrics. Almost as if the transcribers are completely unfamiliar with southern accents. --Khajidha (talk) 00:06, 22 September 2019 (UTC)