Using the brake pedal at traffic lights?

Lum

Road_Hog wrote: »

That statement suggests to me, that you are using your left foot?

You should only be using your right foot, your left foot should be sitting to the lefthand side of the footwell (where some cars have a small foor rest) doing nothing other than relaxing.

If you mean left foot braking then no. The brake pedal in most autos is about 6 inches wide, extending leftwards to occupy the space where the clutch pedal would be.

Many people who drive an auto for the first time make this mistake. I remember well making it myself as I'd just picked up a trade plater who thought it was hilarious as the car stops suddenly about 20 metres short of the traffic lights, only for him to ask, "You've just bought this, haven't you?"

red_eye

StrangelyBrown wrote: »

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

whats wrong with that? the normal stick your hand up involves you taking eyes off the road to look in the rear view to see if the other driver had acknowledged your hand. hazards are closer to hand, in my polo I just have to extend my finger and my eyes are still on the road

red_eye

StrangelyBrown wrote: »

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".

it the same with flashing headlights to let someone go who cares, people moan when someone does not thank them for letting them past people moan when some one uses lights not for purpose they are intended for

Road_Hog

marleyboy wrote: »

I guess being left handed and left footed may play a part, but tend to think that an automatic has no clutch pedal, Ergo my feet are subconsciously looking for an extra pedal that isn't really there.

Stick your left foot to the side and leave it. Right foot, on the accelerator or on the brake, you just swivel from one to the other. That way, you can never have a foot on accelerator when you've got your foot on the brake and panic under the confusion and keep pushing on both.

If mentally make a note not to use your left foot, it does come quite easily after a short period.

forgotmyname

Left foot on the brake is an excellent way to get launch control on an auto without the added expense.

Bringing the revs up to a bit less than the stall point before releasing the brake.

Works best with older slushboxes though. Modern stuff tended to pickup better from low revs anyway, Trying the left foot trick usually left you with tons of wheelspin.

Because the box thought you were moving it changed up with the wheels still spinning..

marleyboy

Think I will stick to the stick shift method, I'm not too big be on automatics myself.

surreysaver

Strider590 wrote: »

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

As long as you are aware of the real meaning of flashing hazards on a moving vehicle and the possible cosequences if somebody misinterpretes them, on say, a motorway.

Strider590

I think looking at this thread...... You just cannot win, your damned if you do, your damned if you don't and we Brits are simply (beyond a certain age range) moaning ba5tards.

Much like the chap who was waving his arms out of his car and weaving about the road, trying to point out that I shouldn't be overtaking on hatch markings (when actually I was perfectly within my rights), his actions were far more dangerous than the actions he was insistent on trying to stop.

Life doesn't present us with black and white situations, the rules are there so that those lacking in common sense have something to follow. They're not there so that those common sense deficient individuals can have a moan at those who choose use their own brain in a way that accounts for the grey area's in any given situation.... But when idiots don't want to accept being idiots, they usually turn to rule books to pick fault with their mentally superior cousins.

If we all drove around following only the rules as written in the HWC (remember that in the HWC, MUST NOT and SHOULD NOT are very different), this country would grind to a halt in a very short space of time.

Also, how many of the holier than thou, would actually sit behind a moped on a 60mph road, rather than pop around it on solid white lines?
I see this every morning, drivers who probably think they're safe drivers, tootling along at 42mph in a 60 zone, tut tutting at others behind them, drivers who would flash or honk at you for overtaking them, they come up behind a moped or a cyclist and they'll overtake on solid white lines (or round a blind bend).
They think that i'm driving dangerously by trying to drive at the speed limit, but I would NEVER overtake on solid white lines OR around a blind bend!
Hypocrites tbh, they know they're bad drivers, but they try to justify themselves by pretending everyone around them is far worse.

almillar

Road Hog - you understand I'm not shifting down through each gear, just selecting one and letting the car slow down in it. I'll say again that I'm saving more money in petrol and brake pads (yes that I buy and fit myself) than I am spending on gearboxes (cost so far = £0 in 14 years of driving). There's also an argument that without the gearbox being engaged you're not in full control of your vehicle, but I'm also happy to 'coast' in certain situations.

u704446

Strider590 wrote: »

...I see this every morning, drivers who probably think they're safe drivers, tootling along at 42mph in a 60 zone, tut tutting at others behind them..

Unlike the dangerous idiots driving up your backside when you are traveling at the speed limit tut tutting that you aren't going fast enough :mad: