sitting at lights with foot on the brakes - why

almillar

TrickyWicky - You're right, I've never owned, seen or heard of them.
I'm not even sure it's legal in the UK why don't you bring an example into the forum. Plenty of people are asking, and 'go ask Google' isn't a very good answer.
I'm not talking about these emergency braking systems BTW, I've only seen the ones that flash the indicators, apparantly there are ones that flash the brake lights too. This is not the same. There are only 2 settings, and when you see the more severe one, it means there counld be an accident about to happen.
neilmcl - can you please tell us what your car is?! Again, your system just sounds like an emergency braking system.

InsideInsurance

almillar wrote: »

neilmcl - can you please tell us what your car is?! Again, your system just sounds like an emergency braking system.

The BMW have brake force display which has a second zone of brighter LEDs for very heavy braking (greater than 5m/s) which can also trigger the hazard lights after stopping

https://www.bmw.co.uk/bmw/marketEV/bmw_next/en_DE/footer/q-and-a/technology-guide/dynamic-brake-force-display.html

As to if this is an "emergency braking system", well that would depend on your definitions, it does however mean that the amount of light output from the brake lights does change dependent on the amount of braking happening (though generally with only 2 settings)

Different manufacturers have different trigger mechanisms and responses. Mercedes flash the brake lights instead if over 75% pressure is applied when travelling 50km/h or above http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/passengercars/home/new_cars/models/viano/_639/facts/overview/safety.0008.html

TrickyWicky

alastairq wrote: »

not since the old volvo died

:eek: Is that even possible?

What happened to it?

TrickyWicky

almillar wrote: »

TrickyWicky - You're right, I've never owned, seen or heard of them.
I'm not even sure it's legal in the UK why don't you bring an example into the forum. Plenty of people are asking, and 'go ask Google' isn't a very good answer.

Yeah but demanding that someone provide you proof because "it doesn't exist unless I've experienced it" isn't a very good defence for claiming they don't exist either.

I'm not here as your slave chum, if you have issues believing something exists because you've not seen it then thats your problem not mine.

As for whether or not it's legal doesn't really matter. The government tend to react to things after they're introduced in order to make them legal. Remember sunday trading being illegal in the 80s? Supermarkets decided to flout that and then it was legalised. Same with those little blinky lights cyclists use.. illegal until widespread and then legalised. No doubt the same happened whenfog lights were introduced too.

Bottom line: Get over yourself a bit. It's a big wide world and not everything needs your knowledge or consent to exist or be legal.

goonarmy

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Yeah but demanding that someone provide you proof because "it doesn't exist unless I've experienced it" isn't a very good defence for claiming they don't exist either.

I'm not here as your slave chum, if you have issues believing something exists because you've not seen it then thats your problem not mine.

As for whether or not it's legal doesn't really matter. The government tend to react to things after they're introduced in order to make them legal. Remember sunday trading being illegal in the 80s? Supermarkets decided to flout that and then it was legalised. Same with those little blinky lights cyclists use.. illegal until widespread and then legalised. No doubt the same happened whenfog lights were introduced too.

Bottom line: Get over yourself a bit. It's a big wide world and not everything needs your knowledge or consent to exist or be legal.

Calm down dear!

jase1

alastairq wrote: »

...........Cos I'm too idle to bother with the handbrake?

My choice.....[don't have hi-level brake lights anyway...not since the old volvo died, at least]

Seems rather indicative of your approach to driving in general -- until someone dares to mention going faster than the posted limit.

Still, this post serves as a useful reminder of what to do with your posts on other driving-related matters.

anotheruser

I use the handbrake at lights.
People who don't I automatically think they are lazy / bad habit.

alastairq

Seems rather indicative of your approach to driving in general -- until someone dares to mention going faster than the posted limit.

Still, this post serves as a useful reminder of what to do with your posts on other driving-related matters.

Indicative?

Rubbish!

Honest?

Yes!

So, aside from being a bit adrift from DSA requirements if the front vehicle at a red traffic light......in what way does my comment present an issue?

Is the vehicle secure?

Yes!

Will my foot be shifted from the brake if rear-ended?

Not guaranteed in any way, shape or form.

Still....what is not considered is..the handbrake of any vehicle is tested at MoT time, to be...what?

25% efficient?

And..said handbrake works on but two of the many wheels a vehicle might have ??

[certain of my 'professional' vehicles excepted, of course]

Whereas, my foot, nicely planted [size 11 at the moment]....on the brake, is locking every single brake on every single road wheel......

plus, MY observation encompasses both forwards and rearwards all the time.....so..in my car, anyway, I will know if a vehicle is approaching from behind in a manner which represents a threat..

[in my professional capacity, I don't really care how vehicles behind approach the one I'm in..it won't shift, guaranteed! Plus, they don't have crash bars or anything to prevent said errant vehicles from disappearing right underneath....]

So, unlike too many readers on here, my observation skills work overtime, whilst my hands and feet relax.

Can the same be said for you?

From your comments, obviously not?

alastairq

anotheruser wrote: »

I use the handbrake at lights.
People who don't I automatically think they are lazy / bad habit.

Which is fine, certainly by me.......it is your entitlement.

Won't make you any better a driver than anyone else, will it?

Paul_the_Painter

Richard53 wrote: »

You're a lucky chap. If I ever have to give up riding a motorbike, I'm going to have a Caterham as my daily driver.

The Caterham IS my daily driver! The good lady has a Lexus for long trips luckily.