Dead Pedal

In an automobile, the dead pedal, often referred to as a footrest, is located to the left of the other pedals. Unlike the throttle, brake or clutch pedal, the dead pedal does not move and is not connected to anything. The dead pedal can serve several important purposes:

  • It acts as a foot rest for the left foot, for the comfort of the driver.
  • In cars with manual transmissions, it helps keep the driver from riding the clutch.
  • It helps brace the driver whilst performing extreme maneuvers.

The use of the dead pedal is particularly prevalent in Right Hand Drive markets where the door's bulkhead cannot be used to rest the left foot, for example in the Renault Megane

This area may also include other features not associated with direct operation of the vehicle, for instance a foot button for control of the lights or radio. On certain models of Mercedes Benz, the parking brake is a pedal located here.

Famous quotes containing the word dead:

    So, when old hopes that earth was bettering slowly
    Were dead and damned, there sounded ‘War is done!’
    One morrow. Said the bereft, and meek, and lowly,
    ‘Will men some day be given to grace? yea, wholly,
    And in good sooth, as our dreams used to run?’
    Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)