The concept of a front brake light has been floating around the automotive industry for some time now. However, no vehicle manufacturer has yet embraced the idea and turned it into a reality on the
I think they should have it so there’s a type of “slow down” light that supplements the brake light for when your deceleration is from taking your foot off the gas.
Please allow me this opportunity to jump in and complain about the minority, but not insignificant number, of people that don’t seem to be aware that that is even an option (just taking your foot off of the gas/accelerator to slowly decelerate).
Every couple weeks or so I seem to find myself behind someone that’s always either accelerating, or braking, with the brake lights repeatedly flashing on momentarily for no apparent reason. It’s like they realize that they’re going just a little faster than they want, and definitely don’t want to accelerate any more, so the only thing they know to do is hit the brake, instead of just taking their foot off of the accelerator. So they’ve hit the brake and now they’re going too slow, so foot moves off the brake and back to the accelerator. Rinse, lather, repeat.
Every couple weeks or so I seem to find myself behind someone that’s always either accelerating, or braking, with the brake lights repeatedly flashing on momentarily for no apparent reason.
In many EVs and Hybrids the “letting off the accelerator” engages the regeneration drag which slows the car. A number of vehicle makers with particularly aggressive drag (which gets higher regen rates) automatically illuminate the brake lights. So if you’re behind one of these it will look like they are braking when they may have no foot on any pedal (brake or accelerator).
Brake light activates before the brakes engages, so they could just be resting their foot on the brake while coasting. Pretty normal defensive driving technique. People tend to do it in heavier traffic or when people are tailgating them. Gives a way faster brake response.
The brakes aren’t engaged? The light turns on before there’s pressure on the brake. They probably don’t even know their lights are on since they aren’t decelerating.
Please allow me this opportunity to jump in and complain about the minority, but not insignificant number, of people that don’t seem to be aware that that is even an option (just taking your foot off of the gas/accelerator to slowly decelerate).
I think they should have it so there’s a type of “slow down” light that supplements the brake light for when your deceleration is from taking your foot off the gas.
Please allow me this opportunity to jump in and complain about the minority, but not insignificant number, of people that don’t seem to be aware that that is even an option (just taking your foot off of the gas/accelerator to slowly decelerate).
Every couple weeks or so I seem to find myself behind someone that’s always either accelerating, or braking, with the brake lights repeatedly flashing on momentarily for no apparent reason. It’s like they realize that they’re going just a little faster than they want, and definitely don’t want to accelerate any more, so the only thing they know to do is hit the brake, instead of just taking their foot off of the accelerator. So they’ve hit the brake and now they’re going too slow, so foot moves off the brake and back to the accelerator. Rinse, lather, repeat.
End rant. Thank you for this opportunity to vent.
In many EVs and Hybrids the “letting off the accelerator” engages the regeneration drag which slows the car. A number of vehicle makers with particularly aggressive drag (which gets higher regen rates) automatically illuminate the brake lights. So if you’re behind one of these it will look like they are braking when they may have no foot on any pedal (brake or accelerator).
thanks for this information. Next time i see this I won’t be confused
Brake light activates before the brakes engages, so they could just be resting their foot on the brake while coasting. Pretty normal defensive driving technique. People tend to do it in heavier traffic or when people are tailgating them. Gives a way faster brake response.
This is actually insane. Their brakes must wear out so fast.
The brakes aren’t engaged? The light turns on before there’s pressure on the brake. They probably don’t even know their lights are on since they aren’t decelerating.
They might need to check their assumptions. It might not feel like the brake is engaged but it’s an expensive habit that causes unnecessary wear and tear. https://drivingmecrazyblog.com/2020/02/07/quit-riding-your-brakes/
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😂 I feel your pain
Perhaps a short paragraph of text elaborating on the driver’s intentions
Now that’s taking things too far.
But the slow down thing can actually catch drivers by surprise, especially with electric vehicles.