e iPhone's or iPad's new iOS

anotherbaldrick

Don't overdo the coasting up to the lights bit ! I have had teararse merchants behind who make the fatal error of thinking because I easy up to the lights I am also going to be slow on take off. Often foot off drop down into third and clutch out as revs drop to tickover does it.
In time experience will teach you how to judge this.

anotheruser

I sort of do this.
I don't crawl up to the lights at 5mph, but I certainly don't sharply brake to stop, like I see many people do. However I do try and get the car to stop of it's own accord rather than me using the brake.

If someone is desperate to get to the lights 5 seconds earlier just to stop anyway then I pity them.
I am in a minority.

Iceweasel

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Don't listen to this, he is likely to be driving right up your !!! and is a danger, he wouldn't have to jam his brakes on if he had maintained a big gap let people like this overtake and you drop back until you have your big gap again. You will find that the boy racers and loons who overtake will be waiting at the next set of traffic lights when you catch up and feeling very embarrassed that you are right behind them and their foolish behaviour has got them nowhere.

I agree with londonTiger's view of this - not because I think it's the correct way to behave - I certainly don't sit right up close behind the car in front.

However in big cities if you leave a big gap some nut will jump into it, either annoyed at what they think is your 'lack of progress' or smiling with glee at how clever they are.

If you then drop back as you suggest - all that will happen is the next person in a hurry will overtake you as well.

I find it difficult to balance keeping a 'safety zone' in front of me, and not letting it be so big that others want to enter it.

I find it sad that all these pushy people feel that their journey is more important than mine and I am just another hazard to be overtaken as soon as possible.

Fortunately I don't often have to visit big cities or drive in rush hour any more.

bodgerx

gommm wrote: »

1) Why do I never see anyone doing this? When I'm a passenger or watching other cars drive, they always accelerate right up to the red light and then brake sharply at the end

2) The part where you brake in the road and slow down to 5mph at a far distance away from the lights, and then trundle up to them, seems quite "controversial" to me. Just to confirm, is this reasonable and safe? Does this seem correct to you? Obviously I trust my instructor but there lots of ex-instructors on here too, just looking for a discussion

1. Because most people these days drive like their backside is on fire and are under the delusion that they are actually getting somewhere significantly quicker. Just ignore what everyone else is doing and do it the way you have been shown. I do use this method btw.

2. Yes, it's safe and reasonable.

LandyAndy

Iceweasel wrote: »

I agree with londonTiger's view of this - not because I think it's the correct way to behave - I certainly don't sit right up close behind the car in front.

However in big cities if you leave a big gap some nut will jump into it, either annoyed at what they think is your 'lack of progress' or smiling with glee at how clever they are.

If you then drop back as you suggest - all that will happen is the next person in a hurry will overtake you as well.

I find it difficult to balance keeping a 'safety zone' in front of me, and not letting it be so big that others want to enter it.

I find it sad that all these pushy people feel that their journey is more important than mine and I am just another hazard to be overtaken as soon as possible.

Fortunately I don't often have to visit big cities or drive in rush hour any more.

Just let them get on with it. I rarely drive in London these days so I always take it easy and let the pushy drivers have their way. I even let people out of side roads (often to their obvious surprise). Makes for far more relaxed progress.

As for the original point, I'm a great believer in looking ahead and matching your speed to the emerging conditions, not only at traffic lights but also when approaching roundabouts and downward changes in speed limits. Always baffles me why people will drive straight up to a 30mph sign, they've been able to see for half a mile, at 50 or 60 and then brake sharply at it when they could have eased off and been down to 30 as they reached it.

warehouse

Most traffic lights these days change their timing based on sensors in the road. If you're coasting up to lights that won't be changing until they detect a car anyway then it's just false economy. Your driving instructor seems to think that all traffic lights are on fixed timers, they're not.

You never see anyone doing this because it's stupid.

Moto2

warehouse wrote: »

Most traffic lights these days change their timing based on sensors in the road. If you're coasting up to lights that won't be changing until they detect a car anyway then it's just false economy. Your driving instructor seems to think that all traffic lights are on fixed timers, they're not.

You never see anyone doing this because it's stupid.

Yes, as I said above
But ........... the lights still need time to change and depending on how many others there are and what other traffic there is - it will vary, rolling up works on a lot of junctions, you just have to get the timing right

alleycat`

warehouse wrote: »

Most traffic lights these days change their timing based on sensors in the road. If you're coasting up to lights that won't be changing until they detect a car anyway then it's just false economy. Your driving instructor seems to think that all traffic lights are on fixed timers, they're not.

You never see anyone doing this because it's stupid.

This is basically utter twaddle.

The lights around most cities behave differently at different times of day, depending on which direction you are travelling and even more so on holidays.

It is called traffic management.

I don't pretend that i believe they are getting it right but to suggest the majority of lights are purely induction loop driven and "nothing else" is nonsense.

Driving up to lights or into changes of speed limit and then braking unnecessarily hard is just adding wear and tear to your vehicle and costing you money.

The instructor is trying to get the Op to look at what is happening further ahead than the end of the bonnet.

bodgerx

warehouse wrote: »

Most traffic lights these days change their timing based on sensors in the road. If you're coasting up to lights that won't be changing until they detect a car anyway then it's just false economy. Your driving instructor seems to think that all traffic lights are on fixed timers, they're not.

You never see anyone doing this because it's stupid.

Have a think about the difference in fuel used accelerating towards a set of lights and coasting. One scenario your foot is off the pedal, the other it's on. Which uses the most fuel?

There is a reason why 'reading the road ahead' and 'driving like you have no brakes' are top of the list fuel saving techniques.

WTFH

Anticipate.

Look ahead AND behind. Sure, some will tell you to ignore anyone behind you, or that you have the right to drive how you like, but actually, if you are aware of the surroundings, you'll drive appropriately.

Someone just looking ahead as they coast up to lights may not be aware of cars trying to turn left or right behind them who could perform the manoeuvre if they could get a couple of metres forward.

So, if it's quiet and there is no traffic behind you, sure, coast up to the lights. If it's busy, show respect for other road users.