An automobile having pedals in the footwell, including, but not limited to at least one apparatus for protection of the lower extremities of the driver or this automobile. The apparatus includes, but is not limited to a deflector plate and at least one fastening element, which is connected to the deflector plate and which serves for fastening the apparatus in the footwell of the automobile, and the apparatus is disposed in the footwell of the automobile in such a manner between two pedals that a foot resting on one of the pedals cannot get behind the pedals if it slips from the pedal in the event of an accident.