Automatics at traffic lights

Jamie_Carter

The correct thing to do is stay in drive at all times on your journey. And only put it into park or neutral if you are waiting for a long period with the engine running. This is what automatics are designed to do.


As for the brake. The correct thing to do is to apply the hand brake, as this is far safer than just applying the foot brake, which your foot could slip off it. However, the exact procedure would depend on what braking system you have, as many modern cars have some weird setups.

InsideInsurance

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

As for the brake. The correct thing to do is to apply the hand brake, as this is far safer than just applying the foot brake, which your foot could slip off it. However, the exact procedure would depend on what braking system you have, as many modern cars have some weird setups.

Yup, no handbrake but a "hold" function so you can take your foot off the brake after its engaged and it doesnt move. Hold turns on the "parking brake" after a period or if a door is opened or if the ignition is turned off.

There is a manual lever to turn the "park brake" on or off but its a bit of a pain to get to (though clearly not impossible) and makes a funny noise

Prothet_of_Doom

Iceweasel wrote: »

There are all sorts of red herrings that can be raised - high-level brake lights bothering the driver behind, for example.

The lights !! It burns my eyes :mad:

I now understand why when I'm tired and hungry, and it's dark, and raining, why my retinas have to be inflicted with "the lights, they burns" .

I shall now have more patience and not mutter words that are bad under my breath.

Its just one of those things that boils my psis.

fivetide

I believe Mercedes officially tell people to leave the car in drive for the reasons iceweasel said. Less wear on the car etc.

Hintza

I doubt I have used my handbrake in the the last 12 months.

philbostavros

I was taught, many moons ago, to keep the foot brake on at the lights.

The reason (which I think still holds today) is that if some numpty runs into the rear of the car, the brakes on all 4 wheels will do a better job of trying to avoid the car being shunted into the one in front (or into traffic, if you're at the front). With only the hand brake on, you're only relying on the rear brakes (in general)?

The brake light debate is certainly affected by the modern stop/start systems, so I don't personally take umbrage at the red light show.

Now, as for Daytime Running Lights (the dammed bright sort), inappropriate use of front fog lights, badly adjusted headlights..... don't get me started!!!

Iceweasel

philbostavros wrote: »

inappropriate use of front fog lights,

That is the one most irritating thing on the roads of the UK at the moment - i.e in the winter months.

Also in part due to those without DRLs wanting to make it look like that they do have DRLs.

Needs another thread this - so we can all vent our anger at the morons who do that.

fivetide

Iceweasel wrote: »

Needs another thread this - so we can all vent our anger at the morons who do that.

True. That said, [rant] what i don't get is how the police aren't pulling people up for it. Would be like shooting fish in a barrel at the moment.

The worst ones are the sidelights/foglights lot. Started out as just chavs in BMWs trying to show off their 'halo' or 'angel eye' lights and now it is random numpties from all walks of like.

Also, particular grumbles at drivers of Nissan Jukes which have those high level saucer like headlights as it is. Combined witht he sidelights above and the fog lights below it simply makes the driver look like they have cateracts and can't see properly. Get them stopped officer! [/rant]

:mad:

philbostavros

Most hilarious one is the cars that now have a "follow me whilst I park" function. I've only noticed it on Skodas, but no doubt on other makes have itoo? Walking down the road and thought I was beeing helpful in telling a chap that one of his Fog/DRLs seemed to be coming on and off. He indignantly told me that they are designed that the light comes on the side the car is turning into??!!

God knows how I managed with my old Ford Consul Mk2 Lowline??

BeenThroughItAll

philbostavros wrote: »

Most hilarious one is the cars that now have a "follow me whilst I park" function. I've only noticed it on Skodas, but no doubt on other makes have itoo? Walking down the road and thought I was beeing helpful in telling a chap that one of his Fog/DRLs seemed to be coming on and off. He indignantly told me that they are designed that the light comes on the side the car is turning into??!!

God knows how I managed with my old Ford Consul Mk2 Lowline??

That's a VAG thing. For ages I was thinking it was coincidence that I kept seeing people's fog lights on one side only dimming as if the bulb had just gone after they turned out of a street.


Now I find it's actually SUPPOSED to do that. Why I don't know, but there's a lot of people who actually want to have the stupid feature turned on where it's default is off, judging by the various VAG forums.