People who drive 40 everywhere

Anyone who can’t plan ahead and adjust their speed (within reason) by lifting off is arguably a crap driver.

You can lightly touch your brake pedal as a warning if required. It's what advanced drivers are taught to do.

No, it’s something most people are taught to do. I can’t be that crap - nearly 40 years without an accident.

And that’s obviously something that crap drivers do.

Doesn't drive me as crazy as the person driving on my bumper when I am doing 20 in a 20 zone 30 in 30 zone etc.

I have a tendency to gradually drop my speed when someone does that. I thought I was just being awkward, but then I went on a speed awareness course after getting a speeding fine (for doing 23 in a 20 zone) and they told us that's actually what you are supossed to do if you acquire a tailgater. On the basis that if you make them go a bit slower, they then have more time to stop if you suddenly have to stop in an emergency, and the injury you sustain will be less as hit at a lower speed. Slightly off topic, sorry

Reading this it’s frightening how people seem to be relying on brake lights to adjust their speed rather than observing the traffic ahead.

No, it’s something you do. Most of us weren’t taught to drive that way, have always braked and will continue to do so. And braking doesn’t mean sudden slowing @Teddleshon, are you unable to brake gently? It’s not hard to tickle the brakes.

This is advice that the police and IAM give

The police and IAM teach acceleration sense, that is planning ahead and adjusting your speed by lifting off.

Yes, of course braking is the quickest way to slow down: it's the way you slow down if you have to do it in a hurry at zero notice, rather than as something you've planned ahead, because you can see that the road ahead will require it.

There is far less chance of being rear ended if you reduce your speed slowly (I e taking your foot off the accelerator) than suddenly (by braking). All telematics / black box rate driving quality negatively on the higher the level of accelerating / braking.

So what’s your point exactly?

I exaggerated, it still takes considerably longer to slow down if you don’t brake.

You don’t stand any greater chance of being rear ended if you brake gently, less actually because your brake lights warn the driver behind that you’re slowing down.

Clearly you’ve got quite an unusual car as it very definitely wouldn’t take a mile to slow in either of our automatics, or any of the ones I’ve driven since my licence at 17.

On what planet would you think it's unsafe to drive smoothly rather than constantly accelerate and brake? The mind boggles!

As for reasons, four fold. Better fuel economy, less wear and tear on the brake pads (reduced cost), less chance of being rear-ended and generally a more relaxed drive if you're not constantly accelerating and braking.

That's no justification for driving unsafely.

Mine slows far faster than that, particularly uphill.

It’s an issue because people constantly brake unnecessarily, if you’re behind someone who brakes it’s impossible to judge whether they are just slowing gradually for an impending corner or because there is a real need to suddenly brake (ie an animal in the road). Unnecessary braking on motorways causes traffic jams and sometimes accidents as people brake relatively harder and harder the further back they are.

Unnecessary braking is also very bad for fuel consumption and not good for your engine.

In my automatic it takes a lot less distance than a mile to go from 60 to 30.

As for reasons, four fold. Better fuel economy, less wear and tear on the brake pads (reduced cost), less chance of being rear-ended and generally a more relaxed drive if you're not constantly accelerating and braking.

Of course taking your foot off the brake will slow an automatic.

Yes, veeeeery sloooooowly. If you need to reduce your speed from 60 to 30 it would take about a mile without using the brake. Why is this even a discussion? What’s wrong with braking?

By the way, I think you meant accelerator, not brake.

they also make the brake lights come on, so cars behind can see and understand that they should slow down, too.

This is advice that the police and IAM give. They also suggest that if you are the last vehicle in a queue of traffic at a junction or traffic lights, or anywhere else where the traffic has stopped, that you keep your foot on the brake pedal to warn the traffic coming up behind you, until another vehicle stops behind you.

They also advise that if someone is tailgating you that you gently put your foot on the brake pedal to show your brake lights so that the driver behind slows down.

I was also told by a policeman that if they see anyone driving unduly slowly they will stop them to check if they are OK (unwell or under the influence of drink or drugs).

Eh? Of course taking your foot off the brake will slow an automatic. I have an automatic ICE and an EV and only need to use the brake if coming to an intersection/roundabout.

From the RAC website

These fuckers are the reason why we now have 20mph speed limits in all the villages around here.

Perhaps I wasn’t clear, obviously you should brake if coming off the accelerator isn’t enough for the situation but certainly for motorways and for many 60mph roads, if you’re looking ahead coming off the accelerator should be sufficient.

It’s the responsibility of motorists behind to keep a safe distance and monitor your speed.

You really shouldn't be changing gear to slow down. That puts a lot of stress on the clutch, gearbox and engine. It's was the brakes are for!

The advanced motorist system:

Course
Mirror
Speed/Brake
Gear
Accelerate

To slow down, you come off the accelerator and brake if that isn't enough, then you change gear, then you accelerate away from the hazard.