Using the brake pedal at traffic lights?

Obukit

Hi,

I'm not sure if I'm going mad but it seems that, stopped at traffic lights, 50%+ of people seem to keep their foot on the brake. When I was learning to drive, I was taught that once stopped, you go out of gear and put handbrake on, to avoid blinding the person behind you with your brake lights. It also means that if you slip off the clutch you don't shunt the person in front of you. In the words of my driving instructor, "If you have time to put the handbrake on, that means it should be on".

However, so many people seem to use the foot brake now, I was wondering if I have got it wrong? Is there some advantage, or is it just laziness? Certainly modern cars, especially Minis, seem to have very bright brake lights and on unlit roads it must affect night vision to have bright lights shone directly in your face? Also, I can't imagine it's great for the disks to have a hot brake pad pushed against them with no air flow to cool off.

Any thoughts?

Stephen_Leak

No advantage, quite the reverse (see below). Just laziness.

According to the IAM, you should pull up and leave enough space in front of you to be able to see the wheels of the car in front of you touching the road. And put your handbrake on.

Over and above any issue with high level brake lights, this way, if someone rear ends you, your foot can't slip off of the footbrake and you shouldn't be shunted forward enough to hit the car in front. Only the rear of your car is damaged. The car and driver in front isn't involved in the accident.

StrangelyBrown

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

leave enough space in front of you to be able to see the wheels of the car in front of you

...which incidentally is a handy little defensive driving tip should you ever need to get out of a tight spot fast.

If you can see the rear wheels of the car in front of you on the road, you will always have enough space to put the steering wheel on full lock and pull out of the gap you're in.

Lum

The being able to see the wheels thing is a guideline for the standard driving test. All that actually matters is that you would be able to pull out forwards and go around the car in front if you need be. Depending on the design of your car and the car in front, using this guideline can fail.

As for sitting at the traffic lights holding the brake. Sheer laziness and a good way to cause premature brake disc failure due to "warping".

Obukit: I'm guessing you've only recently passed. As you're starting to notice, most people on the roads don't actually follow the rules you were taught. Some of the things people do are worth learning, such as a person flashing their lights is more likely to be trying to let you out than giving you a warning. But most of them are just things you should certainly be aware of but try to avoid doing yourself.

StrangelyBrown

Lum wrote: »

Some of the things people do are worth learning, such as a person flashing their lights is more likely to be trying to let you out than giving you a warning.

The one I hate which seems to have gained popularity is using the hazards to say thanks to someone behind you.

Strider590

You learn to drive, you pass your test, then you learn to drive all over again.

Many of the things taught for the driving test are completely impractical in daily practice.

For example I have an old copy of the HWC where at traffic lights when turning right with an oncoming vehicle turning right, you had to go along side and turn behind the oncoming vehicle and not sit there nose to nose.

The first time I did this, my instructor said "I know it's in the highway code, but nobody ever does that.... Do it on the test, but forget it afterwards".

With modern cars, many so heavy that most won't sufficiently hold the car on a steep hill (especially with disk brakes). The best way is to use the handbrake AND the brakes imo.

You have to remember too, that some people drive automatics.

Lastly if the lights are in your face, your too close....... I personally take great pleasure it repeatedly lighting up the face of the person behind me, if they're too close.

Strider590

StrangelyBrown wrote: »

The one I hate which seems to have gained popularity is using the hazards to say thanks to someone behind you.

What's wrong with that? A single hazards flash isn't hurting anyone.................

Truckers do it all the time, it's pretty universal.

Cold frosty mornings or at night, someone lets you out, they can't see you if you wave, so use the hazards...... It's called being courteous, something that's fast disappearing these days.

I guess I could get a scrolling LED banner for my rear window, to say "THANKS " in big red letters...... Though these days it's more likely to say "OI, IT'S A 60MPH LIMIT YOU F**KWIT, NOT 25!!!" or "GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE LANE YOU TW*T!!!"

StrangelyBrown

Strider590 wrote: »

I have an old copy of the HWC where at traffic lights when turning right with an oncoming vehicle turning right, you had to go along side and turn behind the oncoming vehicle and not sit there nose to nose

That must be very old then because I learnt over a decade ago and it gave 2 options (offside-offside or nearside-nearside).

'going round the back' of the vehicle (nearside or right side) is considered safer because your view of the oncoming traffic isn't blocked but yet it rarely happens.

It's Rule 181 if you need a refresher :-)

StrangelyBrown

Strider590 wrote: »

What's wrong with that?

It's using something reserved for a defined purpose and making it mean something completely different.

Like how White Van Man uses his to mean "I'm only parking illegally for a little while, honest".

pinkteapot

It's laziness but I have to say, I've never been blinded by someone's brake lights. Or even that bothered by them. Only time it bothers me is if the lights are on a hill and they roll back before pulling off.

Headlights can be blinding - brake lights aren't really...

fivetide

Lum wrote: »

As for sitting at the traffic lights holding the brake. Sheer laziness and a good way to cause premature brake disc failure due to "warping".

never really understood this one. As the pads are in contact with the disc anyway, whats the point?

Also, some manufacturers, well one I know of, MB say there is no need to even take the car out of drive whilst waiting at lights. I think some models even have a 'hold' feature to stop that autobox creep when in D and idling.

On point though:

114

You MUST NOT

• use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
• use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226)

In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.

5t.