Use your bloody hand brake!

bridgetown1

Pet Hate:

Brake lights can be quite bright, especially newer LED based ones. They are bright for a reason, to warn cars behind that you are stopping.

When you are already stopped, for instance at traffic lights, please engage your hand brake and take your foot off of the brake pedal. This will prevent the driver behind you being dazzled by your shiney brake lights!

Thank You!

Polite Rant Over!

thomas anderson.

I'm finding indicator lights to be even worse these days.

punisher5112

bridgetown1 wrote: »

Pet Hate:

Brake lights can be quite bright, especially newer LED based ones. They are bright for a reason, to warn cars behind that you are stopping.

When you are already stopped, for instance at traffic lights, please engage your hand brake and take your foot off of the brake pedal. This will prevent the driver behind you being dazzled by your shiney brake lights!

Thank You!

Polite Rant Over!

Automatic cars you need to or else you would be selecting n on box and in some cases pressing down handbrake with your foot.

sillysmiles

But only if you are going to pay attention to the sequence of the traffic lights and not sit there for ages after the lights turn green trying to get the car in gear and move off.

punisher5112

sillysmiles wrote: »

But only if you are going to pay attention to the sequence of the traffic lights and not sit there for ages after the lights turn green trying to get the car in gear and move off.

That why I love UK and up north you get the orange 1st

boardsuser1

thomas anderson. wrote: »

I'm finding indicator lights to be even worse these days.

Many Irish drivers don't know what they are!

L1011

There is an ever increasing number of autos, CVTs and electrics where there isn't as direct an equivalent of a handbrake as well as cars with pushbutton handbrakes. This is going to be much of the cause of this.

Falcon L

My automatic has stop/start. If I take my foot off the brake at lights, the engine starts, defeating the whole stop/start thingy.

Del2005

bridgetown1 wrote: »

Pet Hate:

Brake lights can be quite bright, especially newer LED based ones. They are bright for a reason, to warn cars behind that you are stopping.

When you are already stopped, for instance at traffic lights, please engage your hand brake and take your foot off of the brake pedal. This will prevent the driver behind you being dazzled by your shiney brake lights!

Thank You!

Polite Rant Over!

Both my current and last car recommended keeping my foot on the break when stopped and I'm sure that most autos are the same.

If you are getting dazzle I'd be looking at your windows as any dirt on the inside will cause this or it could be an eye problem, I get terrible dazzle and staring when driving Fords with the heated screen yet no one else seems to notice I get a full eye test annually.

Del2005

punisher5112 wrote: »

That why I love UK and up north you get the orange 1st

And they all pull off on the orange! So having an orange before green here won't matter as people don't look at the lights, if they don't see a green they won't see the orange that came on before it.

Kimbot

Falcon L wrote: »

My automatic has stop/start. If I take my foot off the brake at lights, the engine starts, defeating the whole stop/start thingy.

I think all stop/start are like that even the non-autos. I must see if its that way in mine.

boardsuser1

Del2005 wrote: »

And they all pull off on the orange! So having an orange before green here won't matter as people don't look at the lights, if they don't see a green they won't see the orange that came on before it.

Spot on, those driving through the red lights.

Mickeroo

KC161 wrote: »

Spot on, those driving through the red lights.

Saw someone floor it through a red this morning because they saw the green of the pedestrian crossing light up. Good thing it was early so there was no pedestrians around.

theteal

jonnycivic wrote: »

I think all stop/start are like that even the non-autos. I must see if its that way in mine.

Our old mini, the engine kicked back to life when you pushed down on the clutch pedal

Alun

jonnycivic wrote: »

I think all stop/start are like that even the non-autos. I must see if its that way in mine.

Not on my Nissan manual it isn't. Only thing to restart the engine is depressing the clutch.

RebelButtMunch

Aren't you supposed to have the handbrake engaged in case you get rear-ended?

Kimbot

theteal wrote: »

Our old mini, the engine kicked back to life when you pushed down on the clutch pedal

Alun wrote: »

Not on my Nissan manual it isn't. Only thing to restart the engine is depressing the clutch.

As I said I ain't too sure I'm only getting the hang of mine now and I noticed when I put the handbrake on and took my foot off the brake the engine started up again. I must have a look again later and see

Dravokivich

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

Aren't you supposed to have the handbrake engaged in case you get rear-ended?

As a stationary object, I'd expect anything that hits into you, it wont matter what brakes are on, if there's enough force to move you, it'll move you.

boardsuser1

Mickeroo wrote: »

Saw someone floor it through a red this morning because they saw the green of the pedestrian crossing light up. Good thing it was early so there was no pedestrians around.

should be an automatic court appearance for those caught doing it.

I see it regularly myself but not on the level in which you see it.

Alun

jonnycivic wrote: »

As I said I ain't too sure I'm only getting the hang of mine now and I noticed when I put the handbrake on and took my foot off the brake the engine started up again. I must have a look again later and see

On mine the detection of the clutch being depressed is very, very sensitive and even just tickling the clutch pedal with your foot when taking your foot off the brake pedal is enough to set it off, which I did a few times when i first got the car. Could be that?

Mrs OBumble

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

Aren't you supposed to have the handbrake engaged in case you get rear-ended?

Yes.

But theres no rule about also taking your foot off the brake pedal.

OP maybe its time for an eye test if youre getting sensitivity to glare ....




Just sayin'

Kimbot

Alun wrote: »

On mine the detection of the clutch being depressed is very, very sensitive and even just tickling the clutch pedal with your foot when taking your foot off the brake pedal is enough to set it off, which I did a few times when i first got the car. Could be that?

You could be right, I'm actually going to take it out in the empty car park later and see how it all reacts, I know I tend to hover over the clutch alright so I will post back my results

L1011

Mickeroo wrote: »

Saw someone floor it through a red this morning because they saw the green of the pedestrian crossing light up. Good thing it was early so there was no pedestrians around.

Had a driver give me glares and actually drive towards me as if I was walking across during a green sequence for them when she had seen the green man go off for me. Stopping dead and pointing out the red got the usual not-really-sorry apology wave.

iguana

My driving instructor advised me that if you are the last in a queue stopped at a red light you should keep you foot on the brake as well as engaging the handbrake as the dazzle of your brake light might just be the thing to get through to an inattentive driver coming from behind that you are stopped.

CorkMan_

I recently bought my first Auto and as I hate being dazzled by brake lights I checked that I could shift into N at stops but was advised from numerous sources that I'd be doing more harm than good to the autobox. Even the owners manual tells me to keep my foot on the brake and leave the 'box in drive.

So I do apologise for blinding people but not much I can do about it!

daithihalton

My car has an auto hold function which when the car is stopped brings on the brake lights even when my foot is not on the brake !

magicbastarder

a chap i know was diagnosed with a mild form of epilepsy a year back - apparently the first sign of it was being dazzled by car brake lights, iirc.

BuffyBot

Moved to Motors, where it might be a more natural fit

fullstop

punisher5112 wrote: »

Automatic cars you need to or else you would be selecting n on box and in some cases pressing down handbrake with your foot.

Also auto boxes with auto-hold handbrake, even if your foot is not on the brake, the brake light will be on as long as the auto-hold is engaged. Not a big deal IMO.

pa990

Auto handbrake ftw


If brake lights annoy you so much, don't ever drive in the U.S.

biko

I just tap my brake along with the music, makes the gridlock flash like a disco :P

BronsonTB

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

But theres no rule about also taking your foot off the brake pedal.

May not be a written rule but it should be common courtesy.

Carpentry

I drive automatic. Wife passed the test recently, was never told by the instructor to go into neutral gear and use handbrake. Thats one thing.

Another thing is that cars like Mercs and Lexus have "leg handbrake", dont know how to call it, but you basically put/release brake pedal which is next to the gas pedal on the left using your foot. I know, parking brake its called. Cant imagine doing this every time I stop.

Another thing, indicators on the car in front of you, they can be more disturbing than brake lights, especially at night. What would you then ? Sunglasses after dark ?

Some things are unavoidable.

Neilw

My car has auto hold, as soon as I stop it applies the brakes and brake lights stay on. Nothing I can do about it.

duffman3833

punisher5112 wrote: »

That why I love UK and up north you get the orange 1st

if this was down south it would help traffic flow better as people will be more prepared to take off from lights, only downside i can see to it is there will be a lot of drag races

SBPhoto

If you are being blinded by Brake Lights and indicators i would suggest you get an eye test as soon as possible, But you can't win someone else posted recently about not being able to see the indicators on some cars as they are so small.

Isambard

my car has hillstart assist and stop start so basically you never use the handbrake unless parked. Sorry

sbs2010

Carpentry wrote: »

I drive automatic. Wife passed the test recently, was never told by the instructor to go into neutral gear and use handbrake.

My wife is taking lessons at the minute in an automatic and her instructor has told her to apply handbrake (operated by left foot) if stopped for 10secs or more.

So that's not necessary to pass the test then , no?

SBPhoto

my car has Electric Handbrake, hillstart assist and stop start so don't have or need a handbrake to use

pa990

Carpentry wrote: »

I drive automatic. Wife passed the test recently, was never told by the instructor to go into neutral gear and use handbrake. Thats one thing.

Another thing is that cars like Mercs and Lexus have "leg handbrake", dont know how to call it, but you basically put/release brake pedal which is next to the gas pedal on the left using your foot. I know, parking brake its called. Cant imagine doing this every time I stop.

Another thing, indicators on the car in front of you, they can be more disturbing than brake lights, especially at night. What would you then ? Sunglasses after dark ?

Some things are unavoidable.

It's refered to as an emergency brake..

Same thing as a handbrake.

Carpentry

sbs2010 wrote: »

My wife is taking lessons at the minute in an automatic and her instructor has told her to apply handbrake (operated by left foot) if stopped for 10secs or more.

So that's not necessary to pass the test then , no?

I dont know if she'd been stationary for more then 10 minutes, I'd say she wasn't, but she was taking lessons with instructor and he never mentioned that. Same during the test. She passed it first time, never using N gear or handbrake.

White Clover

KC161 wrote: »

Many Irish drivers don't know what they are!

It seems many cars don't have indicators!

CiniO

I was surprised when I did driving test in Ireland after 13 years driving experience, and I was told by instructor, to engage handbrake when stopped at junctions, lights, etc...

Nonsense, and I never did this outside driving test in Ireland - before or after it.

I generally use handbrake very seldom.
Never during driving (except maybe from some odd handbrake u-turns )
And very seldom during parking - only when parked on a hill or in high winds.

Zcott

Thought I was the only one who really hated this...and once you notice it you can't unnotice it :-(

bridgetown1

bridgetown1 wrote: »

............

When you are already stopped, for instance at traffic lights, please engage your hand brake and take your foot off of the brake pedal..................

Nah........... I'll use the footbrake............. cheers though

cletus

I've literally never been dazzeld by brake lights

JoeA3

Most new VAG cars have an electronic "handbrake" with auto-hold. Auto-hold engages whenever you come to a stop at a junction or whatever. Even if you take your foot off the brake pedal, hold remains engaged until you blip the throttle again. While hold is engaged, the brake lights stay lit. The handbrake only engages when you park up and turn off the ignition. I haven't manually applied a handbrake in 4 years.

BunkMoreland

I never use the handbrake while stopped. Never put it in neutral either. Such messing about.

Put it into first, foot on clutch and brake. If it annoys you, I really couldn't give a ****!

Sam Russell

In the 1970s some cars were made with a relay that dimmed the rear indicators and the brake lights if the side lights were on. This had the effect of reducing the dazzle for the following drivers. It was dropped for some reason.

I have a Golf manual and I always put the handbrake on and select neutral when stopped at lights. I also have an automatic that shuts off the engine when stopped and restarts the engine if I release the foot brake. So foot stays on the foot brake until I am ready to go. Nothing I can do about it - so sorry guy behind, but if it troubles you, your eyesight might need checking..

Eyesight should be tested at every renewal of the driving licence. Eyesight does deteriorate with age, and glaucoma and macular degeneration can go unnoticed until it is too late.

Should have gone to Eyesight Savers.

Nate--IRL--

Most cars don't bother me - but Hyundai's seem to have abnormally brighter lights than most other brands.

Nate

Senecio

Where I come from we call it a parking brake as you only use it when parking up and leaving the car (also can be used on steep hill starts). I make no apologies for blinding you. I will continue to leave my car in gear with my foot on the brake pedal.