Yet another motorway moan...pointless braking?

[Diabolik]

Not really a rant as such as it has never personally affected me - just leaves me completely baffled at the dimwits who choose to do so...

Why do people brake for no reason in motorway traffic moving at a seemingly steady speed? I see cars with literally nothing infront of them for atleast 500 feet yet they feel the need to compulsively brake every now and again; as if they are just checking they still work!?

Travelling down the M3 in the poor weather conditions today made this behaviour even more apparent and it really started to wind me up. Thought of flashing anyone who does it repeatedly then realised it would probably just cause them to brake even more.....

[HellDiver]

It's even more fun when there's sheet ice on the motorway. It really gives their ESP a workout.

[Allanv]

The art / concept of deceleration and leaving a good gap is lost on the masses these days.

Using the gearbox to slow down is no longer taught so brakes and the concertina affect is the norm now.

Edited by Allanv on Monday 10th January 20:55

[Jem0911]

Texting.
Must be, if not then complete brain fade.
Have never understood them.

[tr7v8]

Allanv said:

The art / concept of deceleration and leaving a good gap is lost on the masses these days.

Using the gearbox to slow down is no longer taught so brakes and the concertina affect is the norm now.

Edited by Allanv on Monday 10th January 20:55

This is a lot of it, also a common reason why so many cars go out of control in snow & ice! The amount of people who think that the brake pedal is the only way to slow a car down is mental. Bad techniques taught in driving school, also when I learnt to drive most cars had at best mediocre brakes, these days very few cars have poor brakes & most have ABS etc.

[Wills2]

I witness this for 200 miles everytime I drive home on a Friday, It's like they are trying to get an inch nearer home.

[driverrob]

It's not just here and not just on Motorways. Last month we (actually OH driving) followed a black Merc for about 5 miles on winding roads in new Zealand.
Oncoming traffic - touch the brakes.
Gentle bend in sight - touch the brakes.
Dead straight road - touch the brakes.
I tend to straighten curves by using the whole width of my half of the road. This driver just wandered all over his half.

Unfortunately our grossly under-powered hire car meant overtaking was never possible so we just hung back until the driver decided to turn off. No point in risking road-rage.

[petrolsniffer]

Allanv said:

The art / concept of deceleration and leaving a good gap is lost on the masses these days.

Using the gearbox to slow down is no longer taught so brakes and the concertina affect is the norm now.

Edited by Allanv on Monday 10th January 20:55

I find on steep hills alot of people just ride thier brakes to regulate thier speed when dropping a cog would suffice.

[read5458]

Allanv said:

The art / concept of deceleration and leaving a good gap is lost on the masses these days.

Using the gearbox to slow down is no longer taught so brakes and the concertina affect is the norm now.

Edited by Allanv on Monday 10th January 20:55

I do this all the time when driving, this leads to the tailgating tr behind you to end up in your boot because they fail to understand how a car can slow down at an increased rate without using brakes.

[davidjpowell]

driverrob said:

It's not just here and not just on Motorways. Last month we (actually OH driving) followed a black Merc for about 5 miles on winding roads in new Zealand.
Oncoming traffic - touch the brakes.
Gentle bend in sight - touch the brakes.
Dead straight road - touch the brakes.
I tend to straighten curves by using the whole width of my half of the road. This driver just wandered all over his half.

Unfortunately our grossly under-powered hire car meant overtaking was never possible so we just hung back until the driver decided to turn off. No point in risking road-rage.

Mother -In - Law, particuarly in dark.

Oncoming traffic - pull close to the verge.
Gentle bend in sight - hammer the brakes until at a crawl.
Dead straight road - go at speed of car in front.

[Pistom]

Allanv said:

The art / concept of deceleration and leaving a good gap is lost on the masses these days.

Using the gearbox to slow down is no longer taught so brakes and the concertina affect is the norm now.

Slowing by dropping a gear was taught back in the days when brakes would fade quickly so you'd use engine compression via the gearbox to slow the car to save your brakes.

Using the gearbox to slow down will put more strain on all the transmission components so should be avoided. Engine/transmission components are designed to maintain/add speed to the vehicle, brakes are for slowing the car.

[Tunku]

PistomSlowing said:

by dropping a gear was taught back in the days when brakes would fade quickly so you'd use engine compression via the gearbox to slow the car to save your brakes.

Using the gearbox to slow down will put more strain on all the transmission components so should be avoided. Engine/transmission components are designed to maintain/add speed to the vehicle, brakes are for slowing the car.

Just eh?

Edited by Tunku on Monday 10th January 21:20

[F i F]

More specifically on the exact point raised by the OP, namely people braking on the motorway when there is nothing in front of them, no cause to have to brake, it isn't even as if they are braking to avoid going over the limit as they are usually chuntering on about 60 and in the middle lane. Plus it's just a clear dab on the brakes, not a dicky micro switch or any malfunction other than in the driver's brain.

I see this on the M40, usually nearish London, and it mystifies me too. The only explanation I have is that the drivers are incompetent and maybe a bit thick.

I have another observation related to this phenomenon but to give that would result in accusations of stereotyping on the basis of race, so I won't comment further as my experience may be, or more likely is, completely unrepresentative.

[J500ANT]

They're only turning the cruise control off

[Cost Captain]

petrolsniffer said:

Allanv said:

The art / concept of deceleration and leaving a good gap is lost on the masses these days.

Using the gearbox to slow down is no longer taught so brakes and the concertina affect is the norm now.

Edited by Allanv on Monday 10th January 20:55

I find on steep hills alot of people just ride thier brakes to regulate thier speed when dropping a cog would suffice.

I followed a mk4 fiesta down a hill once, they were on their brakes the whole way (quite hard i imagine from the smell of burning it generated) and I went down in 2nd. They were accelerating away from me at an impressive rate, whilst i was at a steady 25mph.

[driverrob]

J500ANT said:

They're only turning the cruise control off

That's a point (although off-topic). If your cruise control applies the brakes do your brake lights come on?

[J500ANT]

driverrob said:

J500ANT said:

They're only turning the cruise control off

That's a point (although off-topic). If your cruise control applies the brakes do your brake lights come on?

Dunno about new radar distance stuff, but "conventional" cruise control won't apply the brakes.

[WeirdNeville]

My driving instructor (advanced) told me that if you have to use your brakes on the motorway for anything other than an emergency stop, then your have failed in obsevation and/or anticipation. I think he was bang on, I still kick myself on the rare occasion I have to brake on the motorway.

driverrob said:

J500ANT said:

They're only turning the cruise control off

That's a point (although off-topic). If your cruise control applies the brakes do your brake lights come on?

:O if your cruise control applies the brakes there's something horribly, horribly wrong with it!!
In these days of 'pre-emptive baking systems etc, yes, if the car brakes automatically it will have to show the brake lights - possibly even flash them like you see some cars do when brakig hard.

Edited by WeirdNeville on Monday 10th January 21:34

[F i F]

driverrob said:

J500ANT said:

They're only turning the cruise control off

That's a point (although off-topic). If your cruise control applies the brakes do your brake lights come on?

I've wondered that too with these active cruise controls.

Though the cars I've seen with random braking effect doubt if they even have cc never mind the active version.

[4Q]

F i F said:

usually nearish London

To be honest, I think this is pretty key.

This morning for example. M4 Eastbound and the driving got worse (more tailgaters, more tttery, less headlight bulbs and more foglights) the closer I got to the capital.

On a Friday heading west the reverse is usually true.

(And yes, if I had the choice I would stay in the countryside. It's much more agreeable. But I don't so I can't. For now!)