im a leftie and i can not drive an automatic car

I'm left handed and I love my automatic car.

Just to answer the OP ? My late husband had an automatic for a few years. The only problem I had was, when he reverted to a manual gearbox, I kept stalling at junctions!

I'm left handed. I use a knife and fork the conventional way but have to swap to the left to use a spoon, otherwise I'd miss my mouth! I could never use a fork the American way for the same reason. Other than that, and for writing, I've never had much of a problem in a right handed world and I simply can't get away with left handed scissors! They are a mystery to me. My parents were very determined that I would never be forced, or even encouraged, to write with my right hand in school. They made it very clear from the start. Some parts of the world are still medieval about the use of the left hand though...

Mollygo

Petunia I hope you can get to grips with the automatic enough to enjoy it.
I had the same problems, particularly with my left foot, continuing to work the non-existent clutch for a long time.
Good luck.

Years ago when I was even poorer i was given an automatic car, and my dads advice was to sit on my left foot whilst driving... it worked lol

Yes, automatics are different. You're going to make a few unexpected emergency stops when you push down a clutch pedal that has somehow turned into a brake!

But I don't really think being a lefty has much to do with it.

I'm right handed but changing gears with my left hand is OK, It took a while to get used to driving DH's automatic car when we were dating because I wanted to manually change gears ?.

Now living in France with a LH drive French car with manual transmission, once or twice I tried to change gears as normal but, um, wrong hand. ? ? I got used to changing gears with my right hand quickly though because I used to help my mum in South Africa change gears when her left elbow was too sore (rheumatoid arthritis). So she almost had an automatic car. Me!

Try harder! When I moved from a manual to an automatic I found my gear lever hand and clutch foot wanted something to do but that wore off over a month or so. And handedness is also affected when driving abroad. After a while it's easy.

I'm right-handed and left-footed - does that signify anything? Though I do often use my left hand in preference to the right for many things. I do have a birth deformity of my left hand so maybe I would have left-handed otherwise?
Re the comment on tin openers, aren't both hands deployed equally in using them?

I have changed to an automatic car and am extremely left handed.
Persevere because I am not going back to gears ever again. It does take some gettig use to but is much easier when you do!

I couldn’t agree with you more Petunia. I am left handed and left footed! I’ve driven automatic cars over the years but it never felt right, and now I will only drive a manual car. I don’t drive my husband’s automatic for this reason. I love the idea of an electric car but know it’s not for me. Safety has to come first.

Petunia, I don’t think it has anything to do with left or right. We bought an automatic after 50+ years on manuals. My brain is trained to a manual car and even after over a year I still find my left foot going for the clutch.

If you've been driving for a long time, suddenly using an automatic is disconcerting...no changing gear, no clutch etc. It does get easier, but it takes time - and you'll never want to drive a manual again.

Mollygo said That’s a scary concept, however much of an expert you are or are or not. The whole idea of using the same foot for the brake as the accelerator is that you have to take your foot off the accelerator to use the brake.

Glad it’s not just me who went at using different feet for brake and accelerator! I can’t imagine any situation in which you’d need to press both accelerator and brake at the same time. Apart from the obvious dangers, you can do a lot of damage to some engines by accidentally pressing down on both pedals at the same time.

I'm a lefty too and no problem with an automatic in fact it has helped with leg and foot pain. My mum taught me to knit right-handed and to use a knife and fork the 'proper' way round. Probably my biggest problem is trying to work out how I am going round other people in the street, I always pick the wrong side. Maybe stop comparing it with your old way of driving and try thinking of it as a completely new skill?

I’m a ‘leftie’ , don’t find our automatic difficult, sorry. It does take some getting used to, not having anything for your left leg/foot to do, but no problems at all.

DH is a total.leftie, can't do anything right handed at all BUT he loves driving our automatic car & his automatic van! We never thought of getting one until we were offered one when replacing a particular car we'd loved with the latest model. There was an automatic available right away - we dithered & eventually said yes to it...Best thing ever. You do have to persevere but I'm sure you'll love it if you do. We do also keep an old manual for pottering about in but it feels really weird now. We're on the 3rd automatic car & 2nd van.

@ petunia, I’m a ‘righty’ but cannot for the love of Mike drive an automatic vehicle!

If I strapped my left foot somewhere tgen with time I could hopefully but would hold my breath!! I’m neurodivergent do that May have something to do with it?

I'm an extreme right-hander, but I have lived - and driven an automatic - on the continent. It was a bit weird at first but I persisted and found it quite easy after a month or so.

Specially for you Petunia - and all other “lefties”.

My husband was an advanced class 1 police driver and a trainer for the Institute of Advanced Drivers and he always drove an automatic with both feet. Left foot on brake of course. Perhaps you could try that

So am I right in thinking you are saying, Honeysuckleberries, that he contravened the correct way to drive an automatic while instructing others?

I agree merlot. It’s certainly not the way to drive an automatic car (which I’ve done for the last 25 years).

Honeysuckleberries

I didn’t say he was a police instructor and I also didn’t say he trained or advised anyone else to drive like that. That was my suggestion.

In which case your post was misleading and your suggestion nothing short of dangerous to somebody who is clearly not a confident driver..

Mollygo

Honeysuckleberries

My husband was an advanced class 1 police driver and a trainer for the Institute of Advanced Drivers and he always drove an automatic with both feet. Left foot on brake of course. Perhaps you could try that.

That’s a scary concept, however much of an expert you are or are or not. The whole idea of using the same foot for the brake as the accelerator is that you *have to take your foot off the accelerator to use the brake.*

I was surprised too to think this was standard practice as it is certainly not what learner drivers are taught, sounds very (potentially) unsafe too.

Nearly all the cars here are automatic and I can only drive automatics- never bothered to learn how to drive a manual and won’t start now. My daughter is left handed and so is her husband and there is really no difference at all , neither of them has ever had any problems driving automatics. Now knitting- that’s another matter ! I couldn’t teach her and she never learnt.

I didn’t say he was a police instructor and I also didn’t say he trained or advised anyone else to drive like that. That was my suggestion.