sitting at lights with foot on the brakes - why

spacey2012

Taking the car out of gear, putting the handbrake on, lights change, put car in gear, take handbrake off, let clutch out, at least 4 seconds, now in a queue of 100 cars, that is a long time before everyone gets home.
I would say the answer is because they want to get home.

neilmcl

spacey2012 wrote: »

Taking the car out of gear, putting the handbrake on, lights change, put car in gear, take handbrake off, let clutch out, at least 4 seconds, now in a queue of 100 cars, that is a long time before everyone gets home.
I would say the answer is because they want to get home.

Only if you're a really rubbish driver. How about stop at lights put handbrake on, put it in neutral only if necessary, anticipate the lights changing and in the time it takes to change from red, amber green you could easily have the car in gear and rolling. Not really that difficult or time consuming.

RichardD1970

DaveF327 wrote: »

That means you're using judgement. Unfortunately, the majority of our beloved nation's drivers don't know what judgement is; they just drive on autopilot where the only thing on their mind is the text message they're currently sending.

Doubt it is a majority. Most drivers are perfectly competent you just notice the crap ones more.

I sit with my foot on the brake because it has an automatic parking brake, there is a switch to put it on but it is not in the most accessible place.

Also if on a hill, it has hill start assist where it holds the brakes on for a short time as you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator, so encourages you to sit with your foot on the brake.

arcon5

I'll sit on brake if i'm near the front so I don't have to mess around with handbrake and what not. I'll possibly put handbrake on if i'm at the back, as well as sit on the brake pedal if on a fast moving road.

But all in all, does it really matter?! Not everybody is the same

terryw

It is safer to use the parking brake.

MoneyMate

arcon5 wrote: »

I'll sit on brake if i'm near the front so I don't have to mess around with handbrake and what not. I'll possibly put handbrake on if i'm at the back, as well as sit on the brake pedal if on a fast moving road.

But all in all, does it really matter?! Not everybody is the same

A bit inconsiderate as previously mentioned to the car behind in dark conditions, possibly blinding, i have at times brought my sun visor down to reduce glaring brake lights in my eyes at close quarters. :mad:

arcon5

MoneyMate wrote: »

A bit inconsiderate as previously mentioned to the car behind in dark conditions, possibly blinding, i have at times brought my sun visor down to reduce glaring brake lights in my eyes at close quarters. :mad:

If you don't like it then you could always leave a bigger gap between me and you to reduce the affect it has on you.

But brake lights are hardly that dazzling, especially compared to some headlights which can be quite intense.

happyc84

Thanks for the posts, interesting feedback. an additional question for those who recently passed their driving test or have been in charge of learner driver.
1, driver sits in queue of traffic at lights on handbrake.
2, driver sits in queue of traffic lights with foot firmly on foot brake;

is both options the correct answer?

Ultrasonic

I'll usually put the hand brake on at lights, as much out of laziness as anything else. Any driver that noticeably holds up traffic by doing this is incompetent.

londonTiger

I don't have one of these new cars that seem to have led brake lights. It's a lot less work to just feather the brake pad than to put the hand brake on.

I think cars with super bright brake lights have a sensitivity system so they're much brighter when braking at speed than idle.

My pet peve is when tall vehicles have their indicators on while in traffic and they're blinking right at eye level