Sitting at junctions/lights with the foot brake on
Discussion
I don't think I'm alone in this, I find the brake lights of cars in front at junctions/queues annoying/dazzling, especially at night. I realise that many are employing their car's stop/start 'economy device' but still feel that it's just mindless, what's wrong with the handbrake? I think it's largely the fault of the engineers who created the start/stop.
A monthly PH thread. As I stop, I leave a gap in front and foot on the service brake. Once I see the vehicle behind has seen me stationary and is slowing, then I will release the service brake, creep forward, then stop, put the car into P, release the service brake, and apply the parking brake. Being in Park, ensures that any stop/start system is still active, Neutral does not. Of course, if the stop is sufficiently short, I will stay with my foot on the service brake.
I will also say, I rarely find brake stop lights directly in front of me a nuisance.
I will also say, I rarely find brake stop lights directly in front of me a nuisance.
Countdown said:
Sorry
It's a combination of clunky autobox and electronic handbrake PITA.
This is annoying in the Jag.It's a combination of clunky autobox and electronic handbrake PITA.
The only way to remain stationary and use auto stop start is by holding the service brake; If you come to a stop (Engine cuts), apply the parking brake, the engine will come back on and remain on as it's switched on the brake pedal.
Otherwise, You have to switch to park which is a little OTT for most short waits.
I was not aware until driving my Dads Audi, no idea what model dont care but fairly new, that even if you use the electric brake thing that detects when you are not moving and releases, the brake lights come on. not sure if they di after braking to a stop and applying Ebrake thing.
Seems silly, what difference does it make to know the car has an ebrake applied than a footbrake applied?
Seems silly, what difference does it make to know the car has an ebrake applied than a footbrake applied?
R0G said:
So why do the same thing using brake lights?
Lack of common sense and consideration ?
Because, as mentioned above, in a lot of cars it’s how the car is designed. Lack of common sense and consideration ?
Three recent cars of mine (all autos) - stop start will only work if you’re on the main brakes. Otherwise you need to knock it into neutral and put the handbrake on. Fine if you’re stopping for a while at lights but a rare occurrence.
Two others had a hold function where a firm press on the foot brake put the auto handbrake on, but the car leaves the brake lights lit.
I don’t like having the brake lights on unnecessarily, but equally, I’m driving the car the way it was designed to be driven.
Edited by CheesecakeRunner on Saturday 25th December 06:40
R0G said:
How many would dream of putting rear fog lights on in this situation ? = none
Why? = because it would dazzle the driver behind
So why do the same thing using brake lights?
Lack of common sense and consideration ?
Agreed. Not all drivers doing this have cars with auto boxes/stop start. In some ways this is worse than the rear foggers, due to the closer distance between you and the car in front. Why? = because it would dazzle the driver behind
So why do the same thing using brake lights?
Lack of common sense and consideration ?
LukeBrown66 said:
I was not aware until driving my Dads Audi, no idea what model dont care but fairly new, that even if you use the electric brake thing that detects when you are not moving and releases, the brake lights come on. not sure if they di after braking to a stop and applying Ebrake thing.
Seems silly, what difference does it make to know the car has an ebrake applied than a footbrake applied?
All VAG cars have kept the brake lights on if using brake hold (which keeps all four brakes applied) for some years. It’s to avoid people crashing into you if you’re the back car in a queue.Seems silly, what difference does it make to know the car has an ebrake applied than a footbrake applied?
In wife’s DSG Tiguan if stop/start cuts the engine stops it doesn’t start again until you touch the gas pedal.
Sheepshanks said:
All VAG cars have kept the brake lights on if using brake hold (which keeps all four brakes applied) for some years. It’s to avoid people crashing into you if you’re the back car in a queue.
In wife’s DSG Tiguan if stop/start cuts the engine stops it doesn’t start again until you touch the gas pedal.
My BMW is the same brake lights stay on until I drive off.In wife’s DSG Tiguan if stop/start cuts the engine stops it doesn’t start again until you touch the gas pedal.
carreauchompeur said:
In my Merc the most practical way for brief stops is the double press on foot brake and into neutral, foot handbrake is a faff.
I just switch on auto hold in traffic and it does everything for you, anything else involves effort.Headlight glare is worse than brake light glare.
myvision said:
Sheepshanks said:
All VAG cars have kept the brake lights on if using brake hold (which keeps all four brakes applied) for some years. It’s to avoid people crashing into you if you’re the back car in a queue.
In wife’s DSG Tiguan if stop/start cuts the engine stops it doesn’t start again until you touch the gas pedal.
My BMW is the same brake lights stay on until I drive off.In wife’s DSG Tiguan if stop/start cuts the engine stops it doesn’t start again until you touch the gas pedal.
Always thought it would have been a good idea to use the reversing sensors and/or camera to detect when there's a stationary car behind and switch off the brake lights.
Rear foggers are an annoyance rather than anything else, it is as if they turn it on and it has to stay on for miles, it is a switch, you can urn it on and off as the fog eases or worsens"!
the issue with brakes on are not the brake lights per se it is some cars have these huge extra brake bars at the rear, in traffic they can be damned bright
I have always been told to use the handbrake a lot and always will regardless of e brakes etc.
the issue with brakes on are not the brake lights per se it is some cars have these huge extra brake bars at the rear, in traffic they can be damned bright
I have always been told to use the handbrake a lot and always will regardless of e brakes etc.
Sadly been automated for years on cars with “auto hold” functions on electric park brakes. The system illuminates a green “(P)” tell-tale when you’re stationery and the brake lights automatically apply. I agree it’s too arbitrary that you might be at the back of a queue so best have them on… in the world of interconnected systems, you’d have thought the brake lights would extinguish if the park sensors pick up a vehicle behind 
shame really
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