Stop/Start and Brake Lights

[ian in lancs]

The other thing I've noticed is the engine starting up can startle pedestrians at a zebra crossing!

[Speary8]

A pet hate of mine is megawatt brake lights toasting my eyeballs particularly at night. A police class one told me that it was an offence to dazzle another driver and this includes from the rear.
It doesn't take much to apply the handbrake if you are going to be stopped for more than a few seconds even in an auto
For what it's worth I turn off my start stop

[Skyrat]

Speary8 said:

A pet hate of mine is megawatt brake lights toasting my eyeballs particularly at night. A police class one told me that it was an offence to dazzle another driver and this includes from the rear.
It doesn't take much to apply the handbrake if you are going to be stopped for more than a few seconds even in an auto
For what it's worth I turn off my start stop

It drives me insane at night. I regularly have to put down the sun visor and sit there, while the lazy fkwit in front sits with his foot on the brake instead of taking 2 seconds to put on his handbrake. It's more often than not these days.

[R E S T E C P]

Skyrat said:

while the lazy fkwit in front sits with his foot on the brake instead of taking 2 seconds to put on his handbrake

Have you read any of this thread? Even just the first post?

Modern car + start/stop functionality + automatic gearbox = brake lights stuck on

Modern car + automatic brake hold function = brake lights stuck on even with foot off the brake pedal


Driving these cars as designed/intended results in the brake lights being stuck on.

[waremark]

R E S T E C P said:

Skyrat said:

while the lazy fkwit in front sits with his foot on the brake instead of taking 2 seconds to put on his handbrake

Have you read any of this thread? Even just the first post?

Modern car + start/stop functionality + automatic gearbox = brake lights stuck on

Modern car + automatic brake hold function = brake lights stuck on even with foot off the brake pedal


Driving these cars as designed/intended results in the brake lights being stuck on.

And some US research from a few years ago apparently suggested a lower rate of rear-end crashes for automatic cars, presumably because at the time automatic drivers sat with their foot on the brake pedal showing brake lights, whereas manual drivers did not.

Strangely, I am never dazzled by brake lights, although there are plenty of other things which do dazzle me - headlights of oncoming lights at night, and blue emergency vehicle lights among them. Because of this I find it hard to feel empathetic for those of you who complain about dazzle from brake lights.

[p1esk]

waremark said:

R E S T E C P said:

Skyrat said:

while the lazy fkwit in front sits with his foot on the brake instead of taking 2 seconds to put on his handbrake

Have you read any of this thread? Even just the first post?

Modern car + start/stop functionality + automatic gearbox = brake lights stuck on

Modern car + automatic brake hold function = brake lights stuck on even with foot off the brake pedal


Driving these cars as designed/intended results in the brake lights being stuck on.

And some US research from a few years ago apparently suggested a lower rate of rear-end crashes for automatic cars, presumably because at the time automatic drivers sat with their foot on the brake pedal showing brake lights, whereas manual drivers did not.

Strangely, I am never dazzled by brake lights, although there are plenty of other things which do dazzle me - headlights of oncoming lights at night, and blue emergency vehicle lights among them. Because of this I find it hard to feel empathetic for those of you who complain about dazzle from brake lights.

I think it's just that some people exaggerate 'problems', possibly without realising it.; but at least you and I aren't guilty of that. Calm and rational viewpoints; that's what we're about, ain't that right, Mark?

[waremark]

p1esk said:

I think it's just that some people exaggerate 'problems', possibly without realising it.; but at least you and I aren't guilty of that. Calm and rational viewpoints; that's what we're about, ain't that right, Mark?

Calm and rational - yes that's us, Dave. But I have to believe that people are sincere when they say they suffer from brake lights.

[rainmakerraw]

While I'm certainly not suggesting it's conscious, I think there's an element of truth in that. I'd never even noticed it before, but years ago (10, perhaps) I was speaking to someone who said they hated brake lights in their eyes at night. Of course for the entire following week every time I was behind someone with brake lights at night I'd say 'Oh their brake lights are bright, aren't they?', followed by 'That's better' when (if) they went off. Not that they actually bothered me, but the suggestion was planted and I started noticing it. I do wonder whether there's an element of that at play here. Even with the new super bright LED rear clusters I can't say I've ever actually been dazzled by them or found them uncomfortable, regardless of how dark it was.

As Waremark says, headlights and LED blue lights are another matter! I find it worst with a large SUV type vehicle sitting behind, as their beam is necessarily higher than most and being in a low car exaggerates this. Many have a knack of catching your interior mirror just so. My latest car has auto dimming interior and wing mirrors though, so it's not a problem any more.

[smarty156]

A couple of people mention putting the car in neutral (in an auto/DSG) and the car restarts when you take your foot off the brake. Have you tried putting it in park instead? I know the car I'm getting soon will remain with engine off if you come to a stop, apply the electronic handbrake and put it in Park. I think it may even automatically apply the handbrake when you put it in Park so you don't even have to do that part yourself.
When you want to go again, put foot on brake and flick into Drive, foot on the accelerator and away you go (handbrake is automatically released when you pull away).

Sitting behind cars with brake lights on doesn't bother me in the least and I don't really see what the fuss is about. If you're driving behind someone and they brake do you moan about it then as well?

[anonymous-user]

I don't know if DCT has a 'park' function like a normal auto?

My 2015 3 Series Auto allows the engine to stop via stop/start, then I press the P button and the engine remains off with my foot off the footbrake. Engaging D restarts the engine.

Just the horrible diesel jolt to contend with as it restarts, then.

[Dave Hedgehog]

smarty156 said:

A couple of people mention putting the car in neutral (in an auto/DSG) and the car restarts when you take your foot off the brake. Have you tried putting it in park instead? I know the car I'm getting soon will remain with engine off if you come to a stop, apply the electronic handbrake and put it in Park. I think it may even automatically apply the handbrake when you put it in Park so you don't even have to do that part yourself.
When you want to go again, put foot on brake and flick into Drive, foot on the accelerator and away you go (handbrake is automatically released when you pull away).

Sitting behind cars with brake lights on doesn't bother me in the least and I don't really see what the fuss is about. If you're driving behind someone and they brake do you moan about it then as well?

Engine starts on mercs, and why try to avoid using a designed safety' feature ?

[Speary8]

R E S T E C P said:

Have you read any of this thread? Even just the first post?

Modern car + start/stop functionality + automatic gearbox = brake lights stuck on
Speary8
Not if you put the handbrake on and take your foot off the brake pedal

Modern car + automatic brake hold function = brake lights stuck on even with foot off the brake pedal
Speary8
Not on VW group cars

Driving these cars as designed/intended results in the brake lights being stuck on.

Edited by Speary8 on Monday 27th March 07:03

[Ramona]

Speary8 said:

R E S T E C P said:

Have you read any of this thread? Even just the first post?

Modern car + start/stop functionality + automatic gearbox = brake lights stuck on

Not if you put the handbrake on and take your foot off the brake pedal

In my M3 the engine will restart if you put the handbrake on and then take your foot off the brake pedal. Which is what I had said in my initial post - and what R E S T E C P was suggesting that you read!

[watchnut]

Why do you all turn off your "stop/start"?....

.I recon it saves me about £5 a week in fuel!...

.My car is a Mini, I have had it about 3.5 years and done over 100k in it mostly around Southampton....which has a ton of traffic lights. the car is used for teaching learners, and "coaching" full licence holders..(most who are really poor at putting car into neutral, and taking their foot off the clutch at traffic lights). i suspect my starter motor takes more of a beasting than folks who only do a few miles a day on a commute to and from work, to date no problems at all.

why buy a car with stop/start and not use it? Get with the times, your engine only needs to be off for about 10 seconds to save fuel, and reduce pollution. why give the government extra money every time you stop by not using technology designed to save you money? The £250+ a year it saves me pays for a service/MOT....no brainer

Those of you who say your not blinded at lights when a knob sits with a foot on a brake.....great and bully for you....but many many are blinded.....so maybe think about what effect you "may" be having on other road users, rather than "I'm all right Jack " attitude

[Ramona]

watchnut said:

why buy a car with stop/start and not use it?
[...]
Those of you who say your not blinded at lights when a knob sits with a foot on a brake.....great and bully for you....but many many are blinded

But the point that I was making is that the way that BMW have implemented Stop/Start on my M3 means that it only works if you do sit with your foot on the brake.

So I can EITHER use Stop/Start and risk dazzling other drivers OR switch off Stop/Start and be considerate. In my case, I have chosen not to use Stop/Start.

[p1esk]

Ramona said:

watchnut said:

why buy a car with stop/start and not use it?
[...]
Those of you who say your not blinded at lights when a knob sits with a foot on a brake.....great and bully for you....but many many are blinded

But the point that I was making is that the way that BMW have implemented Stop/Start on my M3 means that it only works if you do sit with your foot on the brake.

So I can EITHER use Stop/Start and risk dazzling other drivers OR switch off Stop/Start and be considerate. In my case, I have chosen not to use Stop/Start.

Good for you, honestly. We should treasure these situations in which we still do have a choice.

[watchnut]

To be honest with you both, if i had an M3 I wouldn't give a hoot what's behind me, and just be smug they are looking at my exhaust pipes, big rear tyres and little M3 badge!

If you drive an M3 I expect you are not stationary much anyway!

[ScoobyChris]

Ramona said:

But the point that I was making is that the way that BMW have implemented Stop/Start on my M3 means that it only works if you do sit with your foot on the brake.

On my M140 you can put the car in Park and the engine stays off and you can take your foot off the foot brake. Putting it back into D starts the engine again when the lights change to green...

Chris

[cmaguire]

watchnut said:

To be honest with you both, if i had an M3 I wouldn't give a hoot what's behind me, and just be smug they are looking at my exhaust pipes, big rear tyres and little M3 badge!

If you drive an M3 I expect you are not stationary much anyway!

My observations over many years and many miles lead me to believe that most drivers of performance cars have insufficient talent to do much with them at all, so the M3 will likely be behind rather than in-front.

[Ramona]

cmaguire said:

My observations over many years and many miles lead me to believe that most drivers of performance cars have insufficient talent to do much with them at all, so the M3 will likely be behind rather than in-front.

My observations over many years and many miles lead me to believe that most drivers of performance cars have no need to try to prove anything (especially on public roads), and are quite happy to be behind those who take a less responsible attitude to their driving.