Here's a question for all you budding florida drivers out there!

Having driven in the States a few times now, I'd like to know what the foot pedal thing that is usually found in the left-hand corner of the drivers seat footwell is for.

The first time I drove in the States, my car had a similar gearstick set up as we have in the UK, which you put into Park, drive, reverse etc.and had a normal handbrake accompanying it. The second time I hired a 7 seater from Alamo and had the stick-shift on the wheel and also a hand-brake (where you normally find it in the UK), however, this year I hired a 7 seater from Dollar and was confused as I had a stick-shift on the wheel but NO hand brake at the side. I felt really stupid as I went to ask the girl at the Garage where the hand-brake was, only to be told I only had to use the Park setting on the shift-stick, which I knew already but thought I also needed a handbrake too. However, she never explained what the pedal in the leftside of the footwell was for.

Am curious to find out what this is for.

Cheers