Auto hold keeping the brake lights on sucks
Discussion
I've read a bunch of twisted logic on why it's a 'critical safety feature' to keep the brake lights on with auto hold, and it makes no f
king sense.
When I come to a complete stop I have never felt oh I wish I could stop resting my foot on the pedal perfectly placed for resting my foot on, if I am being lazy I keep it there.
When I am not being lazy I go to the extra effort of taking it back off and finding somewhere else to rest it to avoid dasling drivers behind for too long with brake lights.
Auto hold could help me avoid having to engage the handbrake when I take my food off, except it keeps the brake lights on. So I still have to turn on the handbrake, which makes it basically completely redundant as a convince feature.
And it gets worse, because now I have auto hold the parking brake is expect to only be used for parking, so it starts doing st I don't want it to do like turning on the interior lights when I use it.
king sense.When I come to a complete stop I have never felt oh I wish I could stop resting my foot on the pedal perfectly placed for resting my foot on, if I am being lazy I keep it there.
When I am not being lazy I go to the extra effort of taking it back off and finding somewhere else to rest it to avoid dasling drivers behind for too long with brake lights.
Auto hold could help me avoid having to engage the handbrake when I take my food off, except it keeps the brake lights on. So I still have to turn on the handbrake, which makes it basically completely redundant as a convince feature.
And it gets worse, because now I have auto hold the parking brake is expect to only be used for parking, so it starts doing s
t I don't want it to do like turning on the interior lights when I use it.Yep: I have that and it's very unfair on the driver behind.
But what about daytime running lights where the rear lights are NOT illuminated. No sense in that whatsoever. Made worse by those who don't realise so at dusk or early morning they don't bother to switch their proper lights on.
But what about daytime running lights where the rear lights are NOT illuminated. No sense in that whatsoever. Made worse by those who don't realise so at dusk or early morning they don't bother to switch their proper lights on.
I agree entirely. That way you can sit on the pedal until someone comes up behind you then switch off the brake lights (which is basic courtesy to the driver behind) without faffing with the hand brake. Our MG4 is the same, but at least with that you can put the handbrake on without the car doing anything else unwanted.
I also agree that front-only DRLs are stupid! Or perhaps more specifically it's moronic to have any lighting mode which lights up the dashboard without displaying exterior lights to both front and rear.
I also agree that front-only DRLs are stupid! Or perhaps more specifically it's moronic to have any lighting mode which lights up the dashboard without displaying exterior lights to both front and rear.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 9th October 21:46
kambites said:
I agree entirely. That way you can sit on the pedal until someone comes up behind you then switch off the brake lights (which is basic courtesy to the driver behind) without faffing with the hand brake. Our MG4 is the same, but at least with that you can put the handbrake on without the car doing anything else unwanted.
I also agree that front-only DRLs are stupid! Or perhaps more specifically it's moronic to have any lighting mode which lights up the dashboard without displaying exterior lights to both front and rear.
I don't have it, but it doesn't sound like a great feature. I also agree that front-only DRLs are stupid! Or perhaps more specifically it's moronic to have any lighting mode which lights up the dashboard without displaying exterior lights to both front and rear.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 9th October 21:46
Front only DRLs are totally moronic, even dangerous quite often, unless Auto-lights were also compulsory.
I don't necessarily look at it as a convenience feature, more a safety thing. If I pull up to a red light for example, then the auto hold, brake lights on, tell any approaching vehicles I'm stopped. Once someone else takes over that rear vehicle position then I apply the handbrake, brake lights off. Nothing more.
At junctions, if I'm likely to be stopped for more than a few seconds and there's vehicles behind, then handbrake on, just like I would driving a car without auto hold.
I do appreciate that others don't think like me though, and for others it's very much a convenience thing. Do like the people who have auto hold, but still keep their foot on the brake pedal, as they probably have no idea how it all works?
At junctions, if I'm likely to be stopped for more than a few seconds and there's vehicles behind, then handbrake on, just like I would driving a car without auto hold.
I do appreciate that others don't think like me though, and for others it's very much a convenience thing. Do like the people who have auto hold, but still keep their foot on the brake pedal, as they probably have no idea how it all works?
loskie said:
But what about daytime running lights where the rear lights are NOT illuminated. No sense in that whatsoever. Made worse by those who don't realise so at dusk or early morning they don't bother to switch their proper lights on.
DRL’s were introduced to increase the visibility of vehicles approaching pedestrians during hours of daylight, not to increase their visibility to other cars (hence they are fitted to the front only). Merry said:
I can't say I've ever been particularly bothered by brake lights from the car in front.
Clearly people are though, as this comes up fairly regularly on here.
Neither have I. Its just a red light that in no way dazzles me. However, it seems to other people, what they see are those lights used during war time to illuminate the sky in order to spot enemy aircraft, such is their intensity. Clearly people are though, as this comes up fairly regularly on here.
They really auto-release in BMW X3s (and presumably other models)? Goodness.
This topic has come up before, I’m sure. In my mundane VAG hatchback I can come to a stop with my foot on the foot brake and set the auto hold with a small additional compression. This leaves the rear brake light lit. Once I’m happy the car behind has stopped I then pull on the “handbrake” toggle which keeps the car still but switches off those lights for the comfort of those behind but will be released by the tiniest pressure back on the accelerator pedal. The risk of rolling backwards when on a gradient is identical to when relying on “pure” auto hold.
I’m not an automotive engineer but I wouldn’t have thought this method is much, if at all, different to using auto hold as is widely adopted but just goes without the bright LEDs unnecessarily shining onto the cars behind.
Unless I’m somehow doing things wrong.
Rear lights are definitely brighter than they used to be. This is clearly demonstrated when you come across older (which might only be ten year old) cars. I’m told sensitivity to these things increases with age and so complaints about their brightness are often dismissed as “your problem, mate” but in the urban environment it just seems a bit of a courtesy to traffic behind to not have them lit unnecessarily.
This topic has come up before, I’m sure. In my mundane VAG hatchback I can come to a stop with my foot on the foot brake and set the auto hold with a small additional compression. This leaves the rear brake light lit. Once I’m happy the car behind has stopped I then pull on the “handbrake” toggle which keeps the car still but switches off those lights for the comfort of those behind but will be released by the tiniest pressure back on the accelerator pedal. The risk of rolling backwards when on a gradient is identical to when relying on “pure” auto hold.
I’m not an automotive engineer but I wouldn’t have thought this method is much, if at all, different to using auto hold as is widely adopted but just goes without the bright LEDs unnecessarily shining onto the cars behind.
Unless I’m somehow doing things wrong.
Rear lights are definitely brighter than they used to be. This is clearly demonstrated when you come across older (which might only be ten year old) cars. I’m told sensitivity to these things increases with age and so complaints about their brightness are often dismissed as “your problem, mate” but in the urban environment it just seems a bit of a courtesy to traffic behind to not have them lit unnecessarily.
snuffy said:
Merry said:
I can't say I've ever been particularly bothered by brake lights from the car in front.
Clearly people are though, as this comes up fairly regularly on here.
Neither have I. Its just a red light that in no way dazzles me. However, it seems to other people, what they see are those lights used during war time to illuminate the sky in order to spot enemy aircraft, such is their intensity. Clearly people are though, as this comes up fairly regularly on here.
In my car, you can engage the handbrake with the foot brake. With the car stationary, and your foot is on the brake, then lift your foot and press the brake pedal again, and it applies the handbrake. Then take your foot off the pedal.
I assume the brake lights are not on, since its the handbrake that has been applied (just that its been applied by use of the foot brake).
I assume the brake lights are not on, since its the handbrake that has been applied (just that its been applied by use of the foot brake).
snuffy said:
Merry said:
I can't say I've ever been particularly bothered by brake lights from the car in front.
Clearly people are though, as this comes up fairly regularly on here.
Neither have I. Its just a red light that in no way dazzles me. However, it seems to other people, what they see are those lights used during war time to illuminate the sky in order to spot enemy aircraft, such is their intensity. Clearly people are though, as this comes up fairly regularly on here.
I've recently bought a new car and it's the first automatic that I've owned so I really should check when it puts the brake lights on. In traffic I usually use the cruise control though so I only have to tap a button or the throttle if it's been stationary for more than several seconds. I've not actually used auto hold much and by default it's turned off.
Earthdweller said:
mac96 said:
The worst problem with autohold, at least on an X3, is that after some time it decides you don't need it anymore and lets go. As the car is automatic, it then sets off on its own. Slowly, but still alarming when you first discover this foible!
My X3 doesn't do that Ours only does it after longer than you would usually be stopped say at lights; I experienced it while stopped in a lay-by reading a map. (I know, what's wrong with the satnav!)
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