Constant braking on motorways

[vixen1700]

A trend I've noticed a lot more recently.

A whole procession of cars in the outside lane (yeah those lane-hogging laws really changed things ) and constant braking. It's got to a stage where I'm sitting in the lane one and I can just tell when the brake lights are going to go on, and there is absolutely no need for it, no need to brake at all.

Whatever happened to easing off the accelerator?

Are the population just becoming more and more moronic, as this seems to happen while the inside lanes are empty.

Edited by vixen1700 on Friday 29th November 12:58

[surveyor]

Too many people in a rush, too close to the car in front, with zero anticipation skills.

[RobM77]

Driving standards do seem to be dropping, or at least that's what I've noticed during my 19 years of driving. Indicating is becoming less and less common (I reckon less than 5% indicate properly, whereas it used to be more I'm sure!), lane discipline is getting worse, and what you mention is certainly becoming more common.

[dapearson]

It's because people become used to not leaving a gap to the car in front. If they do, someone pulls into it from the left lane.

Therefore people leave no braking distance so have no choice but to react quickly to the car in front.

If everyone left a moderate gap and avoided using their brakes the motorways would all flow properly.

Unforunately, everyone drives to the level of the lowest common denominator.

[callmedave]

Whenever i see this i just think how much it must affect MPG, let alone the extra brake wear etc.

Its almost moronic to drive a car in that manner.

[sparks_E39]

Poor anticipation, poor reactions, and generally poor driving.

[TTmonkey]

Too many automatic cars?

I was in a traffic jam a few days ago. Chap in front of me in a new Jag shooting brake thing.

His brake lights were on constantly, even when pulling away. Stop start traffic for 3 or 4 miles. I pulled up alongside him and told him his brake lights were defective.

It was only a few minutes later when the traffic suddenly sped up past 20mph that his brake lights went out.

So either he was constantly riding the brake pedal, or they were defective. But I suspect it was an autobox and he had his foot on the brake even when pulling off....

[GadgeS3C]

Not looking further than the back of the car in front coupled with the "me, me, me" attitude.

Sadly, driving well needs an engaged brain and consideration for others.

Edited by GadgeS3C on Friday 29th November 14:48

[sparkyhx]

vixen1700 said:

A trend I've noticed a lot more recently.

A whole procession of cars in the outside lane (yeah those lane-hogging laws really changed things ) and constant braking. It's got to a stage where I'm sitting in the lane one and I can just tell when the brake lights are going to go on, and there is absolutely no need for it, no need to brake at all.

Whatever happened to easing off the accelerator?

Are the population just becoming more and more moronic, as this seems to happen while the inside lanes are empty.

Edited by vixen1700 on Friday 29th November 12:58

You forgot to mention that you are going faster than them, and you are on the inside lane. The stretch going North past Luton on the M1 is a classic. 4/5 lanes and the inside one going 10/20 mph faster than the outside lane.

But you are right, even if people are not nose to tail there is a lot more braking than necessary. (wifey is a culprit)

I've also noticed people varying their speed a lot for no apparent reason.

I sit on cruise control all the time on motorways and lost count the number of times I pull out to overtake almost get alongside, then they speed up and I just slot back in behind them. Then they slow down again and I pass then a little while after. its bizzare

[TankRizzo]

dapearson said:

It's because people become used to not leaving a gap to the car in front. If they do, someone pulls into it from the left lane.

Therefore people leave no braking distance so have no choice but to react quickly to the car in front.

If everyone left a moderate gap and avoided using their brakes the motorways would all flow properly.

Unforunately, everyone drives to the level of the lowest common denominator.

This.

People are too concerned with keeping "their place" in the line. If someone cuts in front of me then I drop back to leave the same gap as before - it might of course mean I get to my destination some 0.75 seconds slower than before.

[Shaw Tarse]

I don't think it's a new thing?

[surveyor]

TTmonkey said:

Too many automatic cars?

I was in a traffic jam a few days ago. Chap in front of me in a new Jag shooting brake thing.

His brake lights were on constantly, even when pulling away. Stop start traffic for 3 or 4 miles. I pulled up alongside him and told him his brake lights were defective.

It was only a few minutes later when the traffic suddenly sped up past 20mph that his brake lights went out.

So either he was constantly riding the brake pedal, or they were defective. But I suspect it was an autobox and he had his foot on the brake even when pulling off....

I drive an automatic, and rarely have to brake. It's all about anticipation and space. You can do that badly in a manual to automatic

[Krikkit]

TTmonkey said:

Too many automatic cars?

I was in a traffic jam a few days ago. Chap in front of me in a new Jag shooting brake thing.

His brake lights were on constantly, even when pulling away. Stop start traffic for 3 or 4 miles. I pulled up alongside him and told him his brake lights were defective.

It was only a few minutes later when the traffic suddenly sped up past 20mph that his brake lights went out.

So either he was constantly riding the brake pedal, or they were defective. But I suspect it was an autobox and he had his foot on the brake even when pulling off....

Jag don't currently offer a manual box, so spot on there! He was just lazily left-foot braking in the traffic.

[blearyeyedboy]

I used to be critical, then I realised an important factor while I'm in Lane 3 trying not to copy these people: the lightest touch of your brakes flashes your rear lights, letting the sleepy commuter tailgating you know that you're slowing down. Even if the engine's doing 99% of my braking, this is a useful touch. I try not to be a speed up/slow down/hog outside lane merchant.

[Monkeylegend]

In crawling traffic I am constantly on the brake pedal. My cars is auto and creeps at a constant 8 mph if left to it's own devices.

[GTIR]

As I'm bored and I've got some spare time I viewed my dash cam to count the number of times the numpty in front of me today used his brakes. NSL, single carriageway.

In 10 minutes he braked 53 times.

It wasn't a faulty light either as he'd accelerate then brake, accelerate and brake, whilst weaving around.

Tit.

[Horse Pop]

It's because people don't look any further than the tail of the car in front.

Also the "NO, YOU CAN'T PULL IN, THERE'S A QUEUE" mentality. Numpties.

Edited by Horse Pop on Friday 29th November 13:40

[anonymous-user]

Shaw Tarse said:

I don't think it's a new thing?

Agreed, but as the weight of traffic using our roads at the busiest periods increases, it happens more and more often.

[uknick]

With the cost of my pads and discs I'm too much of a cheapskate to tailgate and forever use them

[Monty Python]

There seems to be a mindset with some people that lane 3 of the motorway has to be the fastest (either that or they're all magnet salespeople and their cars are being drawn towards the crash barrier).