Brake lights and stopping at junctions

Even with a manual, I use the brake the whole light.

(I still find my self shifting to D (from D) at a light, it has only been 9 years since I owned a manual)

 

Most cars don't have an electronic transmission and in order to get to P have to move a lever. Even so, I sit there with my foot on the brake, always have, even when I drove a manual.

 

As far as I'm concerned, It's always been a good habit to keep you foot on the brake at any temporary stop especially in hilly areas like around where I live. For one thing, you don't want to be inadvertently rolling forward or backward and for another, it gives another visual cue to other drivers behind you that you are stopped and won't be moving until you take your foot off the brake.

 

@Ampletum why not describe your location less cryptically, say Sheffield, United Kingdom?

Anyway: stopped at lights, I'll vote for just step on the brake pedal.

 

To be fair its a Royal Mail postcode which is anything but too non-cryptic

Honestly I've now got used shifting into N, and using the pedel handbrake when parked for shorter periods when I want to be able to move off quickly (need to be aware that this will not charge the battery but is also useful to remember when going into automatic car washes). Simple case of shifting to D and removing the handbrake. This means you don't need to touch the foot break.

 

To be fair: clicking on his postal code actually pops up a Google map with location flagged, at least on my pc.

 

At a stop light/sign I simply step on the brake pedal until it's safe to go. The only time I put our car in park is waiting for a long train at a RR crossing.

 

Danger alert!!!
In pull-through car washes you MUST be in ready mode and select neutral.

 

Another one for holding on the brake pedal here, driven automatics for years and it has always been my default option.

 

Similar to me, if stationary for a long time, (wreck, train, construction) I do put it in P and run the 4 way flashers until some car stops behind me, then turn off the flashers, assuming they will take steps not to be hit. For some of you there will always be a car behind you, for others it may be minutes.

 

This question has come up many times before. Forget what I do, I wish the guy in FRONT of me with those BIG BLINDING BRAKE LIGHTS would put HIS in park! I've had to lower the sun visor at night because some vehicles have such bright LED brake lights. Mostly SUV's.

Buy I don't fault the driver. I actually wish my little Prius had much brighter (and larger) tail lights and brake lights. This looks pretty wimpy, especially in the day time. I keep saying, the Gen3 Prius has the BEST brake lights. They immediately get my attention! But the Gen4 stinks! (Toyota trying to save money again.)

 

Hello, I'm another one.

 

Depends - but I do more or less the same as I do with a Manual;

• if there is nobody behind me, I keep my foot on the brake pedal - that way they see I'm stopped when they come over the crest or whatever;
• if there is someone behind me, and I know I'm early in the light cycle and it'll be red for a while, I select "P", but, I have to be alert to go for the brake and "D" quickly when the light goes green.

 

I do the same. I use the "P" button many times during the day. My foot gets tired at these long red lights. Some seem to be 5 minutes. (It also saves wesr & tear on the brake light bulbs.)

Sometimes we will have a serious accident on the freeways. Traffic can be completely stopped for two hours. Nobody is moving. But all these people leave their engine running and their lights on. Some of them still have their foot on the brake. (I can understand if they need the AC running in the heat. But at least they could turn their lights off, and put it in park.)

 

When it was level and I was driving a manual in my last car, I let my foot off the brake to give my right knee a rest.

Now, I'm with the rest of the sheep, sit there with my foot on the brake unless it is a train I'm waiting for or a REALLY long light.

There's nothing that says you have to stare at his brake lights, you old fusspot!

Just teasing a bit, yeah, some brake lights are super bright. (I'm thinking especially about BMW) It's not for sitting at lights, it's for when it's pouring rain and you're driving 70 mph and can barely see in front of you.

 

I keep my foot on brake while stopping on the road, be it on the intersection or stop and go traffic. I can't remember what I did with a stick shift, being some 30+ years ago, but I am quite certain I kept a foot on a brake as well. Of course, back then there was no car with center light, so someone doing that to me didn't bother me much.

 

And don't get me started about people who drive around in pouring rain, or fog, with NO lights on! I see many Prius cars that are totally blacked out. Who said Prius owners are SAFE drivers? HA!
- Buford T. Justice

 

I am having a hard time believing I am reading this. I believe it's part of every drivers' education program to instill the fact that keeping the brakes on at stops is part of safely operating a vehicle. Say you are sitting at a light in neutral and there is a pedestrian in front of you and you get rear-ended. That's a disaster! If you are sitting at a light and in P or N with parking brake and there is a situation where you have to move out of the way quick! The delay of putting the car in drive may mean a difference between non-issue and disaster.

Just keep your foot on the brake and car in D when at stop lights or stop signs or whatever. It's not that complicated that it has to even be discussed! It's basic safety 101.

I am pretty sure that you would fail a driving test in most of free world if you did anything but keep your foot on the brake at stops.