Using the brake pedal at traffic lights?

Gloomendoom

u704446 wrote: »

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:

How accurate is your speedo? You could be doing less than the speed limit and holding everyone up.

tiamai_d

I was taught back in '05 that you use the handbrake and take it out of gear if you are the third or more car in line. Unless I'm at the lights where you wait ages, I stick to that.

In the automatic I always use the brakes, the handbrake is one of those pull level numbers and I cannae be ersed with all that carry on!

u704446

Gloomendoom wrote: »

How accurate is your speedo? You could be doing less than the speed limit and holding everyone up.

So? This does not excuse idiots. A speed limit does NOT mean a minimum speed limit.

Lum

It means the maximum legal speed, which these days is often lower than the design speed of the road. Add annoyance from that on top of being stuck behind someone who appears to be doing 10mph below the speed limit and, well, people get wound up and do stupid things.

This is not to excuse their behaviour, I'm 100% with you on hating tailgaters, but seriously if someone is prepared to but both you and themselves in danger over a speedo discrepancy, or possibly a different interpretation of what the NSL sign means, then please just let them past so that they can disappear into the distance and then crash into something that isn't you.

You don't have to slow down or anything, you can move a little bit further to the left and either signal left or wave them past. This will reassure them that you aren't going to be one of those slower drivers, the ones who put their foot down as soon as someone tries to overtake. Often this is enough to diffuse the situation a little and get them to back off a little until it's safe to overtake.

It really isn't worth trying to wind them up or teach them a lesson. Having a pain-free spine and an undamaged car is much more important than slowing down a bunch of bad drivers.

Gloomendoom

u704446 wrote: »

So? This does not excuse idiots. A speed limit does NOT mean a minimum speed limit.

It doesn't. But it could explain why people are so desperate to get past you.

I also hate tailgaters. I find it is best just to let them past as soon as possible.

andrew-the-cat

anatomical wrote: »

I've also been told that leaving your car in gear uses a small bit of petrol, so if I'm stopped for more than 10 seconds I will put it into neutral.

Your car will be using fuel in neutral too because shock horror, the engine is still running! The only reason I could think of it using any extra fuel while stationary with the clutch in is if you have a hydraulic clutch as the engine is having to power the pump. However it would be a microscopic amount of fuel, literally nothing.

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.

It took me about 24 hours to get used to driving an automatic car when I bought my first one. I have never made the mistake of going for the clutch. Your left foot should never be touching a pedal in an auto.

forgotmyname wrote: »

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.

Doesn't work in a lot of cars, especially more modern stuff with electronic throttles as the ECU will ignore throttle input while the brake pedal is depressed in case it believes you are panicking whilst trying to perform an emergency stop and holding the accelerator down by accident. I have tried the 'launch control' trick in my car, you can hold the accelerator down but nothing will happen until about 1.5 seconds after you take your foot off the brake. It will take off quite fine with no silly racing starts though if you put it in tiptronic and plant the loud pedal to the floor

~Chameleon~

u704446 wrote: »

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:

If the road ahead of you is clear but you have a long line of traffic being held up behind you, doesn't this tell you something? The likelihood is you're driving below the NSL and actually creating a danger by forcing everyone to overtake you just so they can continue their journey at a proper pace!

The number of people I know who think the NSL for a car on open roads is 50mph rather than 60mph is quite staggering.

u704446

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

If the road ahead of you is clear but you have a long line of traffic being held up behind you, doesn't this tell you something? ...

Sorry, I am not talking about dawdling here, but if I am going at 30mph (or even 33mph;)) in a 30mph area and there's someone tailgating because they think me & everyone else should go faster just to suit themselves...

Gloomendoom

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

The number of people I know who think the NSL for a car on open roads is 50mph rather than 60mph is quite staggering.

As is the number of (non car derived) van drivers who don't realise that they are restricted to 50mph on national speed limit single carriageway roads.