Feet on brake pedal when stopped.

[MrBarry123]

fangio said:

If I see the dick-head in front with their foot-brake on, I position my car so that my n/s headlights line up with their mirror and give dazzle for dazzle.

I really envy you clever-stes who say that lights don't dazzle them; you must have cataracts!!!

I'm assuming you haven't heard of auto-dimming mirrors then? You can do whatever the fk you want and all I get is a pleasant green glow.

[Urban Sports]

Rawwr said:

Rape victims?

Have you ever considered counselling?

[skyrover]

I was informed on this forum that constantly moving your automatic gearbox from Neutral to Drive knackers the gearbox.

Ergo, the car stays in Drive now... sorry

[Mr_Yogi]

skyrover said:

I was informed on this forum that constantly moving your automatic gearbox from Neutral to Drive knackers the gearbox.

Ergo, the car stays in Drive now... sorry

Same here, and as my car is an old BMW the handbrake doesn't hold the car in Drive, so foot stays on the brake pedal. Do doo feel a bit guilty as I know when I'm tired, stairing at a high level break light in traffic doesn't help. However the majority of the cars on the road don't seems to care.

[SK425]

Rawwr said:

Unsurprisingly, people perceive light differently and the majority of the population have problems dealing with contrast when it comes to dealing with bright lights at night. I think it's super that some of you don't have a problem with sitting behind people with their brake lights on but you're in the minority. The attitude of 'it doesnt affect me so thats ok' is also really, really great.

I think it's the word 'dazzle' that tends to inflame this debate. People use the word when what they're talking about is the inconvenience or, for some, discomfort of having a light pointed at your face when it's dark and there are other things you want to be looking at, and other people see the word and take it to mean agonising blindness. With great misinterpretation comes great internet polarisation.

Shining brake lights at the driver behind is a bit like leaving your main beam on as you pass an oncoming vehicle (albeit with oncoming main beam it is at least off to one side not directly ahead, and is only close enough to be bombarding the victim with similar amounts of energy to brake lights for a brief period). It's not going to render them blind, just give them something to deal with that it would be easier and more pleasant not to have to deal with.

[AW111]

Does anyone know the comparative brightness of these LED brake lights?

Here in AUS, incandescent brake lights are 21w, and most brake lights have a simple reflector so the light is emitted over a broad angle. I have never found an incandescent brake light annoyingly bright.

Subjectively, LED brake lights are much brighter, over a narrower angle : do they actually put out more light than incandescents?
If so, have the design rules changed, or are they just out of date re the technology (a 21w LED brakelight would be fearsome!) ?

[SlipStream77]

Pretty sure the driver's manual on my car recommends to just use the foot brake unless the car is going to be stationary for a long time.

The other issue with putting an auto in 'P' is that you have to move the lever through 'R' to get there. That flash of reversing lights can be a bit unnerving to some.

[Steve_F]

My eyes are fairly sensitive to bright lights and I've found a good way to avoid getting dazzled. I don't stare directly into the brake lights....

It's hardly one of life's big issue, look slightly to the side and you'll soon know when the brake lights are off.

[xRIEx]

Impasse said:

So the crux of this problem is that far too many drivers are using our roads with uncorrected defective eyesight.

What method of sight correction helps with contrast?

[Impasse]

xRIEx said:

What method of sight correction helps with contrast?

What do you suggest? Banning them from driving? Bit harsh. Mind you, safety first.

[Willy Nilly]

AW111 said:

Does anyone know the comparative brightness of these LED brake lights?

Here in AUS, incandescent brake lights are 21w, and most brake lights have a simple reflector so the light is emitted over a broad angle. I have never found an incandescent brake light annoyingly bright.

Subjectively, LED brake lights are much brighter, over a narrower angle : do they actually put out more light than incandescents?
If so, have the design rules changed, or are they just out of date re the technology (a 21w LED brakelight would be fearsome!) ?

I'd be surprised that part of the type approval process is that brake lights should be bright enough to be easily seen, but not so bright as to cause discomfort for most people, most of the time. After all, queues of traffic sat with the brake lights on is hardly a new thing.

[Coolbanana]

fangio said:

If I see the dick-head in front with their foot-brake on, I position my car so that my n/s headlights line up with their mirror and give dazzle for dazzle.

Wouldn't work in the slightest on my Jeep; it has auto dim rear-view and wing mirrors - very effective too.

I'm guilty of simply keeping my foot on the brake - I would have to be stationary for some time before I'll engage Neutral and handbrake (footbrake in the Jeep).
Laziness and the desire to move on instantly are the reasons although my car does have Hill Start Assist which would be disengaged if I never used the footbrake if I understand its use correctly and we can't be having that.

Edited by Coolbanana on Sunday 23 November 08:43

[delboy735]

Doesn't bother me in the slightest to be fair, but I always use handbrake, and foot off brake pedal...always have. I get more wound up with dheads using foglights permanently, and they invariably have one light offset that just happens to shine into your mirror......tts.

[JMGS4]

Foppo said:

I can't get my head around this why so many drivers have their feet on brakes when stopped.It is irritating for the driver who is behind them.I know this subject has been here before.

Handbrake on or put that little lever in park when you have a automatic.Are people that insecure?

My new CC has the engine-stop option and I can only use this while keeping my foot on the brake. I've e-mailed VW to ask why, as the bright brakelights (esp Mercs at night) are annoying, but no sensible answer as yet. It's really not an option at the lights to switch off and put it in P..... wish there was an alternative as I don't like brakelights in my eyes either..... (and the engine-stop option really saves gas!)

[chr15b]

Can't be that much of a concern, noticed recently on my vw with auto hold / electronic parking brake that when I come to a complete stop (traffic lights for example) and the car applies the brake (auto hold) automatically, that if I take my foot off the brake pedal, the brake lights are still illuminated. If sitting with your foot on the brake was breaking rules / law / against Highway Code I can't see how the car would have passed testing and been ok for sale.

Edited by chr15b on Sunday 23 November 09:07

[Google [bot]]

AW111 said:

Here in AUS

I've lived in Aus now for 12 years. Not once have I seen a car at lights without brake lights on. It's not that I'm not looking for it, it would stand out like a non-shining, non-beacon. Never.

The occasional friend that pays attention to driving has commented that 'you like the handbrake don't you?'

Handbrake here is considered 'park brake'. Most cars are auto, I get that.

I'm not one that gets upset by it, but certainly brake lights have got massively brighter, and it's far from ideal. But what to do? Get upset about it? There's only one person who'll end up pissed off...

actually it really sts me, I've just learned there's no benefit. Saw someone indicate left off a roundabout today! Made my day!

[Richie C]

Highway Code said:

In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.
Law RVLR reg 27

[jmorgan]

chr15b said:

Can't be that much of a concern, noticed recently on my vw with auto hold / electronic parking brake that when I come to a complete stop (traffic lights for example) and the car applies the brake (auto hold) automatically, that if I take my foot off the brake pedal, the brake lights are still illuminated. If sitting with your foot on the brake was breaking rules / law / against Highway Code I can't see how the car would have passed testing and been ok for sale.

Edited by chr15b on Sunday 23 November 09:07

Wondered about these newfangled cars. Is there a manual brake or some sort of override? I would would be panicking overtime in case it failed. Just wondering

[grayze]

This is a timely thread. I have automatic electronic parking brakes In the 5 series, I thought I was being considerate by turning them on in traffic, they apply the parking brake when the car is stationery and release it when you hit the accelerator.

Anyway in traffic last week, I realised they keep the brake lights on when in operation and just thought what is the point, might as well just keep my foot on the brake.

[chr15b]

Well, if you apply the 'handbrake' instead, as mentioned above, it re-starts the engine (if you're using start/stop) however if you're asking specifically about the handbrake then no not as such, but you always have the option of park (auto) or leaving in gear.

Edited by chr15b on Sunday 23 November 09:31