Sitting at junctions/lights with the foot brake on
Discussion
waremark said:
There are other things I find so much more dazzling than brake lights (which don't bother me). Those of you who find brake lights a problem, how do you cope with oncoming headlights or emergency vehicle blue lights at night?
Well now that you mention it...I have a problem with child and animal cruelty, world hunger, how we are killing our planet etc.I am only one person though so can't fix any of them.
waremark said:
Those of you who find brake lights a problem, how do you cope with oncoming headlights or emergency vehicle blue lights at night?
Brake lights are obviously designed to be seen from hundreds of meters away in bright sunlight so when they're illuminated, directly at eye level and just a few metres away for a minute or so, it's going to be an annoyance - I mean, that's their job - to make you very aware of braking ahead by being annoyingly bright.ReverendCounter said:
Brake lights are obviously designed to be seen from hundreds of meters away in bright sunlight so when they're illuminated, directly at eye level and just a few metres away for a minute or so, it's going to be an annoyance - I mean, that's their job - to make you very aware of braking ahead by being annoyingly bright.
Well said Reverend. 
ReverendCounter said:
waremark said:
Those of you who find brake lights a problem, how do you cope with oncoming headlights or emergency vehicle blue lights at night?
Brake lights are obviously designed to be seen from hundreds of meters away in bright sunlight so when they're illuminated, directly at eye level and just a few metres away for a minute or so, it's going to be an annoyance - I mean, that's their job - to make you very aware of braking ahead by being annoyingly bright.ReverendCounter said:
Volvolover said:
What do people do when the sun is bright or oncoming headlights?
When is the sun not bright? Do you think it's output diminishes and increases? 
You know there are sun shades, top tint windscreens and all sorts for this apparently unknown to you phenomenon.
I’m with Volvolover here. Personally I’ve never been sat behind someone with their brake lights on and found myself particularly dazzled. The risk is pretty low given that you should be stationary until at least the point in time that they take their foot off the brake (or you would hope so at least). Plus red light has very little impact on your night vision, so once they go out, you should be able to see just fine.
For the record, personally I always put my hand brake on at traffic lights, I just don’t get upset at those who don’t.
What is probably the actual risk in keeping your foot on the brake, is that you have to maintain pressure to stay still. A distraction, or being hit from behind, or a heart attack etc would result in the car starting to move, though I imagine that risk is actually pretty small.
For the record, personally I always put my hand brake on at traffic lights, I just don’t get upset at those who don’t.
What is probably the actual risk in keeping your foot on the brake, is that you have to maintain pressure to stay still. A distraction, or being hit from behind, or a heart attack etc would result in the car starting to move, though I imagine that risk is actually pretty small.
Nampahc Niloc said:
What is probably the actual risk in keeping your foot on the brake, is that you have to maintain pressure to stay still. A distraction, or being hit from behind, or a heart attack etc would result in the car starting to move, though I imagine that risk is actually pretty small.
Years ago I was sat waiting at some lights and got a bump from behind. Woman behind me was sat in gear with clutch down and apparently sneezed so hard her foot came off the clutch launching her into me.I was in a 4x4 and the towbar took the impact so no harm done, her front bumper was a bit of a mess though
ReverendCounter said:
Brake lights are obviously designed to be seen from hundreds of meters away in bright sunlight so when they're illuminated, directly at eye level and just a few metres away for a minute or so, it's going to be an annoyance - I mean, that's their job - to make you very aware of braking ahead by being annoyingly bright.
Look at the roof of the car instead, or just slightly upwards, shouldn't affect your eyes as much. Same as not looking directly at the sun. Or, always wear your sunglasses, even at night, for that 
drug dealer look! 
It annoys me but many won't realise that they are doing it.
The VAG auto handbrake applies as you stop and leaves the brake lights on, it only turns the brake lights off if you apply the parking brake with the little switch where the lever used to be. Doing this does not affect stop start.
The VAG auto handbrake applies as you stop and leaves the brake lights on, it only turns the brake lights off if you apply the parking brake with the little switch where the lever used to be. Doing this does not affect stop start.
IJWS15 said:
It annoys me but many won't realise that they are doing it.
The VAG auto handbrake applies as you stop and leaves the brake lights on, it only turns the brake lights off if you apply the parking brake with the little switch where the lever used to be. Doing this does not affect stop start.
Many will be following the guidance in their owners manuals too......The VAG auto handbrake applies as you stop and leaves the brake lights on, it only turns the brake lights off if you apply the parking brake with the little switch where the lever used to be. Doing this does not affect stop start.
Having now driven a few more modern cars I was unaware of the fact that these brake systems that detect movement and throttle auto put on brake lights. Even the handbrake.
But it is still slightly annoying when you sit behind a car that obviously does not have this, and they sit there roasting brake discs and wearing the clutch.
there might be a reason why I have never warped a disc or replaced a clutch on any car I have owned for years in 30+ years of car ownership.
But it is still slightly annoying when you sit behind a car that obviously does not have this, and they sit there roasting brake discs and wearing the clutch.
there might be a reason why I have never warped a disc or replaced a clutch on any car I have owned for years in 30+ years of car ownership.
I don't find brake lights particularly dazzling, but to me it seems natural to apply the handbrake any time I expect to be stationary for more than a few seconds - I feel the car is more securely held and I can give my foot a rest. This is how I was taught to drive 30 years ago and my dad has always done the same.
In the years before automatic parking brakes were common, it often seemed that my dad and I were the only people on the roads using the handbrake! You'd see everyone else sitting there with brake lights on, even if stuck for some minutes in gridlocked traffic or at a level crossing. As others have said, if the driver gets a shock or even a sneeze, or if their shoe slips off the pedal, the car could move.
Worse than using the footbrake when stationary is not using any brake at all... sometimes the car in front of me at the lights would be alternately creeping forward, then rolling back slightly as the driver attempted to balance the clutch on a gradient. I was never sure if this was a deliberate dance of impatience or just incompetence.
In the years before automatic parking brakes were common, it often seemed that my dad and I were the only people on the roads using the handbrake! You'd see everyone else sitting there with brake lights on, even if stuck for some minutes in gridlocked traffic or at a level crossing. As others have said, if the driver gets a shock or even a sneeze, or if their shoe slips off the pedal, the car could move.
Worse than using the footbrake when stationary is not using any brake at all... sometimes the car in front of me at the lights would be alternately creeping forward, then rolling back slightly as the driver attempted to balance the clutch on a gradient. I was never sure if this was a deliberate dance of impatience or just incompetence.
LukeBrown66 said:
Having now driven a few more modern cars I was unaware of the fact that these brake systems that detect movement and throttle auto put on brake lights. Even the handbrake.
But it is still slightly annoying when you sit behind a car that obviously does not have this, and they sit there roasting brake discs and wearing the clutch.
there might be a reason why I have never warped a disc or replaced a clutch on any car I have owned for years in 30+ years of car ownership.
How do you wear a clutch when stationary with your foot on the brake?But it is still slightly annoying when you sit behind a car that obviously does not have this, and they sit there roasting brake discs and wearing the clutch.
there might be a reason why I have never warped a disc or replaced a clutch on any car I have owned for years in 30+ years of car ownership.
Granadier said:
Worse than using the footbrake when stationary is not using any brake at all... sometimes the car in front of me at the lights would be alternately creeping forward, then rolling back slightly as the driver attempted to balance the clutch on a gradient. I was never sure if this was a deliberate dance of impatience or just incompetence.
This always amazes me. Do some people just really not like their clutch?Granadier said:
sometimes the car in front of me at the lights would be alternately creeping forward, then rolling back slightly as the driver attempted to balance the clutch on a gradient. I was never sure if this was a deliberate dance of impatience or just incompetence.
It is 100% incompetence.I have seen this many times throughout the years and it just looks so amateurish.
Let's be honest about it holding a vehicle on a gradient by balancing on the clutch is not good practice for obvious reasons, but being able to do it is an acquired skill that a competent driver should be capable of with relative ease.
I never thought to wonder if my brake lights stay on even in the brief moment I move away
My W169 MB A class has a fairly antiquated hill hold system, you even give the brake pedal a bloody good pump if it's a steep hill but it only holds until I move away and I think it's only for a few seconds. I think it will let go after a few seconds if I don't do anything but I don't dare see how long it does it for
My W169 MB A class has a fairly antiquated hill hold system, you even give the brake pedal a bloody good pump if it's a steep hill but it only holds until I move away and I think it's only for a few seconds. I think it will let go after a few seconds if I don't do anything but I don't dare see how long it does it for
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