Is the Gas Pedal on the Right or Left? All You Need To Know

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Asking “Is the gas pedal on the right or left” is common among people learning how to drive or trying to move to another country with a different hand-drive configuration.

Some people are also just curious. Whatever category you belong to, it is a valid question. In this complete guide, we will address this question and also examine other important details about the location of the gas pedal.

Is the Gas Pedal Located on the Left or Right?

The gas pedal is located on the right in a two- or three-pedal car. Also known as the accelerator, the gas pedal controls the output of the engine by controlling the gas that enters the engine. Drivers have to step on the pedal on the right to accelerate the vehicle. 

Depending on the model and make of the vehicle, the accelerator pedal can be closest to the dashboard or the gearbox. The determining factor is ultimately the drive configuration of the vehicle. Either way, you can always expect to find your gas pedal on the right. 

Why Is the Car’s Gas Pedal Located on the Right?

The car’s gas pedal is located on the right because most car drivers are right-handed and will use their right foot for pressing the gas and brake pedals. This is widely believed to have been the logic car manufacturers in the past applied and it actually makes sense. 

By that logic, though, shouldn’t there be a car where the gas pedals are on the left for left-handed people? Well, not quite. Firstly, most left-handed drivers are actually comfortable using their right foot for the gas and brake pedals. Every driving school on the planet also teaches driving with your right foot on the pedal and the brake. 

Aside from not being worth the extra stress of learning how to switch to the left pedal setup, it may not even be safe. The overwhelming population of humans is right-handed, meaning it is best to have the gas pedal on the right for emergency cases.

Is the Gas Pedal Location Constant?

The gas pedal location is not always constant, but the chances of finding a vehicle that does not have the gas pedal on the right are extremely rare. In fact, most cars that have the gas pedal located anywhere aside from the right are not driven by the average driver. 

If you are wondering why the gas pedal location may change in some cars, it is to accommodate for some sort of disability. People that have a stroke or other disabilities that affect the right side of their limbs may need the gas pedal altered for ease of driving. This also applies to people that have lost their legs and need to rely on prosthetics. 

While this special population of individuals often benefit from the gas pedal being on the left, many cars don’t alter the setup of their pedals. One car that has made adequate provisions for people with disability is Honda, where the gas pedal can be easily operated with the left leg.

The fact that manufacturers are unwilling to change their pedal setup even for disabled people isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though, and here’s why. Imagine an emergency situation where the car needs to be driven by someone else. The person driving will not be used to the pedal setup, which can cause accidents. Generally, people that cannot use the right side of their limbs adapt to the pedal location, rely on other people to handle their transportation, or use hands-only vehicles.

Where Is the Car’s Gas Pedal Located in Countries With Right-Hand Drive?

The car’s gas pedal is located on the right in countries with right-hand drive. Quite simply, the gas pedal is always on the right side of a car, except in the extremely rare cases of cars made for disabled people. The location of the steering wheel doesn’t matter. 

This is particularly important for people that are trying to move to countries with a different drive configuration. For instance, European countries generally have right hand drive. This has led to questions like “which side is the gas pedal on in America?” by Europeans learning American driving rules. 

However, nothing changes with regards to the accelerator pedal. Car manufacturers will not alter the configuration that has persisted since the very origin of motor vehicles.

What Pedals Are Alongside the Gas Pedal?

The pedals alongside the gas pedal are the brake and clutch pedals, depending on the car’s transmission. Of the additional two pedals, the brake is constant, regardless of the car’s transmission. However, only manual transmission cars have a clutch pedal. 

Let’s oversimplify it – the gas pedal or accelerator is responsible for making the car accelerate or increase in speed. The brake is responsible for deceleration. The clutch helps in changing gears in a manual car. 

Since gears are shifted automatically in automatic transmission cars, there is no need for the clutch in these cars. This is also the same with electric cars, which have only the accelerator and the brake. Regardless of the number of pedals, you will always find your gas pedal on the far right and the clutch on the far left.

Is There a Gas Pedal in a Hands-only Car? 

There is no gas pedal in a hands-only car, as they are usually designed for people that cannot use the pedal. This is common in cars designed for disabled people. Instead of a pedal, there is usually a button that the driver presses to make the car go faster. 

Is the Brake Pedal Located on the Left or Right?

The brake pedal is located on the left side among the pedals. However, for manual vehicles, the brake is in the center. This is because the clutch pedal is on the far left and the gas pedal is on the far right. 

Similar to the gas pedal location, the position of the brake pedal is also generally constant in a manual or an automatic car. The only exceptions are cars designed for people with a disability on their right foot. Here, the brake pedal is located on the right instead of its usual left position. 

Is It Legal To Use the Left Foot on the Brake?

It is legal to use the left foot on the brake but it is not the safest approach to driving. This is because you may get confused when using both feet on the gas and brake pedals and press the wrong one in tense conditions.

Also, decades of muscle memory prohibit many from using their left foot on the brake. While the consensus is to use only the right foot for both the brake and gas pedals, many racers use both feet. This is done to reduce the time they spend switching from the gas pedal to the brake pedal. 

With manual transmission cars, though, it is imperative that both feet are used when driving. However, even then, the right foot is used for the gas and brake pedals, while the left foot is reserved for the clutch.

Why Is the Brake Pedal Placed Higher Than the Gas Pedal?

The brake pedal is placed higher than the gas pedal to prevent the driver’s foot from slipping onto the brake while driving. Also, while driving, more time is spent accelerating the car than is spent braking, so the lower gas pedal allows better comfort and control over the throttle.

The comfort derived from the gas pedal being lower is most conspicuous when the driver has to be on the road for an extended period of time. The leg posture is more favorable and causes less pain when the gas pedal is lower and closer to the floor. 

Conclusion

The locatio n of the gas pedal is actually one of the most inquired facts about cars, especially among people relocating or those with special needs.

This article addresses that in detail, and here are the essential points to note:

  • The gas pedal is almost always located on the right, except in cars designed for disabled people who cannot use their right foot.
  • The configuration of the drive, whether right hand drive or left-hand drive, does not affect the location of the gas pedal.
  • The reasoning behind the location of the gas pedal is that most drivers are right-handed and use their right foot for braking and accelerating.
  • While it is legal to use both feet while driving, it is generally discouraged by experts and is not the safest approach to driving.

The location of the gas pedal is something you never really have to worry about as you can expect to always find it on the right. If you’re just learning how to drive and are left-handed, you have nothing to worry about when adapting to pressing the pedal with your left foot too. 

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