CHOKEPOINTS

Should you use both feet on the pedals when driving?

Oct 21, 2015, 12:39 PM | Updated: 2:16 pm

A Tacoma mother asks if her teen should use two feet to drive – one for each pedal. (Richard ...

A Tacoma mother asks if her teen should use two feet to drive - one for each pedal. (Richard D. Oxley/MyNorthwest.com)

(Richard D. Oxley/MyNorthwest.com)

Ally in Tacoma sent us an email that had us scratching our heads. And it’s a timely issue since it is National Teen Driving Safety Week.

My husband taught our son how to drive recently; I was in the car with him last week and noticed he uses both feet &#8212 one on the brake, one on the gas. This is wrong, right?

Well Ally, we checked with several sources and have determined while not illegal, it’s not exactly smart.

Experts say at the moment of an accident impact, you will instinctively try to brace with both feet. That means your son will likely be pressing down on both the brake and the gas at the same time, this could make the crash worse.

Maybe a new driving lesson is in order. The crew at Popular Mechanics put together 15 tips for teaching a teen driver that seems to cover everything. Thanks for making the roads safer in Seattle.

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Should you use both feet on the pedals when driving?