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Original poster

People who sit on their brake lights give me the rage

226 replies

Tusktusk · 26/12/2024 23:49

When I’m stuck in a traffic jam and it’s dark, I inevitably end up behind a huge car with super bright brake lights and the driver just sits there for the whole wait time - a good 15 minutes tonight as I was caught up in traffic leaving a big football match - with their foot on the brake, half blinding me with their brake lights!

It seems most people do this now and most modern cars have these super bright in your face brake lights - especially big family 4x4 type of cars. I find it really inconsiderate. Why don’t people use the handbrake in these situations? It’s so much nicer to take all your feet off the pedals and relax while you wait. Plus you won’t be blinding the poor soul sitting behind you!

Is it just me?

OP posts:
TimeForTeaAndG · 26/12/2024 23:50

Our car has hill assist so you don't actually have your foot on the brake pedal but the brake is still applied and the light on. I do try to remember to put the handbrake on though if I'm sitting for longer than a few seconds.

Blowitout · 26/12/2024 23:50

My car automatically keeps the brake lights on even though I can take my foot off the pedal. Could be the same for others?

Original poster
Tusktusk · 26/12/2024 23:53

Oh I see. Well can the manufacturers make them a bit less bright then? I really do find it very uncomfortable on my eyes. I can’t be the only one?

OP posts:
EveryDayisFriday · 26/12/2024 23:54

Do you know its the driver doing this or the car. Many top spec cars drive and function automatically without input from the driver.

WiseLurker · 26/12/2024 23:55

I've got a 2024 car, it doesn't have a physical handbrake and has a button instead.

You can't use the handbrake button without putting the car in park first, obviously I don't put the car into park in traffic.

It also has brake assist, if I've been sat with the brakes on for a couple of seconds it auto holds and I can take my foot off the pedals, though the brake lights are still active.

Perhaps rather than foaming about other people, you should talk to your optician about why you find lights are 'half blinding' you.

DooDooDooDooDooDooDooDoo · 26/12/2024 23:55

It wouldn't cross my mind to think that my brake lights would dazzle the car behind me.

Where I live there is a massive roundabout that is on a hill and there is a pub and a carpark in the middle so it's break-a-rama but I've never thought about other cars break lights.

chocolatespreadsandwich · 26/12/2024 23:55

Tusktusk · 26/12/2024 23:53

Oh I see. Well can the manufacturers make them a bit less bright then? I really do find it very uncomfortable on my eyes. I can’t be the only one?

You're not. I am utterly fed up of all the blindingly bright lights

EveryDayisFriday · 26/12/2024 23:55

OP, I don't disagree with you. I find most cars front lights and brake lights too bright. I now wear light sensitive glasses most of the time.

BigBoysDontCry · 26/12/2024 23:56

It annoys the fuck out of me also OP . I seem to be the only other person on the planet that applies my hand brake.

MartinCrieffsLemon · 26/12/2024 23:59

As many PP have said - most modern cars just activate functions without input from the driver

If the lights irritate you then maybe look into light difusing glasses, I'm sure they aren't the only lights that affect you

GrumpyOldCrone · 26/12/2024 23:59

I learned to drive in an old manual car, and I always put the handbrake on at traffic lights etc. So I could take my foot off the brake.

Newer automatic cars and electric cars don’t have the same kind of handbrake and most people who drive them just keep their foot on the brake.

I agree with you that the lights are too bright though.

ThisTeaIsBad · 26/12/2024 23:59

If I put my car (automatic) in park it takes ages to get going again. I put it in drive, put my foot down, the car has to think about it a bit then put it in gear and then eventually I start moving. By this time the car in front has gone through the traffic lights and they have turned red again. So I sit with my foot on the brake. Sorry.

ThisTeaIsBad · 27/12/2024 00:00

I agree re lights being too bright though.

Original poster
Tusktusk · 27/12/2024 00:03

ThisTeaIsBad · 26/12/2024 23:59

If I put my car (automatic) in park it takes ages to get going again. I put it in drive, put my foot down, the car has to think about it a bit then put it in gear and then eventually I start moving. By this time the car in front has gone through the traffic lights and they have turned red again. So I sit with my foot on the brake. Sorry.

Totally understandable but isn’t it annoying that you have to have your foot on a pedal constantly, even when you are clearly not going to be moving for a few minutes? I like taking all my feet off the pedals, handbrake on, and relax because there’s nothing to do.

OP posts:
JC03745 · 27/12/2024 00:05

If I pull up to a line of traffic- how do I know its going to be a 5sec wait or a 15mins wait to move OP??? Sometimes, the cars creep along, a bit at a time, with no long breaks in between moving forward a bit. What should automatic drivers do OP? Put the car into park and still lift the handbrake!

TBH- the driver behind being dazzled by brake lights is something I've never considered to be an issue!

Original poster
Tusktusk · 27/12/2024 00:07

Ok, so manufacturers are making the brake lights too bright - my guess is that this is all about the aesthetic, to make the car look good, and nothing to do with necessity or safety.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tusktusk · 27/12/2024 00:10

@JC03745 If it’s not something you’ve considered an issue, then you have never noticed it yourself when you are the driver behind?

I’m asking because I am now truly wondering if I have problem with my vision.

Although I have literally no other issues to report with lights or otherwise.

OP posts:
AsTim3GoesBy · 27/12/2024 00:11

Tusktusk · 26/12/2024 23:53

Oh I see. Well can the manufacturers make them a bit less bright then? I really do find it very uncomfortable on my eyes. I can’t be the only one?

You are definitely not the only one and YANBU! I too am very bothered by bright red brake lights. I see green spots every time I blink after having waited behind a car at night. The brightness of the lights hurts my eyes.

When I'm in a queue of traffic or at red traffic lights, I always use the handbrake and often put the car into neutral as well. My car has no modern automatic gizmos, so it's down to me to drive it, control the lights, press the brakes,look behind me when reversing etc.

BigBoysDontCry · 27/12/2024 00:11

Don't have a problem with the lights being bright when someone is actively braking as I'm not that close. However if manufacturers have made a function of having them remain on while the car is stationary (presumably as a safety feature), they could equally arrange for them to reduce brightness while the car is stopped to prevent dazzling drivers of cars stopped behind them.

JoanOfArchers · 27/12/2024 00:14

I had this the other week, stuck in a long line of traffic and I was unfortunate enough to be behind a new car with super bright brake lights. The inside of my car was lit up spectacularly and I was blinded by the intense brightness. Bloody awful! I was annoyed but that’s more to do with the absolute fuckery of these dazzling lights, same applies with the front lights too! Fucking menace!

MagicalTimes99 · 27/12/2024 00:15

I've never been dazzled by a break light but do struggle with the ultra bright dipped beams sometimes. As per pps, putting my automatic in park would be a massive pain every time I stopped!

Thedogscollar · 27/12/2024 00:18

YANBU OP. They are awful feel like they are burning my retinas out, they are so bright.

MrsAvocet · 27/12/2024 00:22

Tusktusk · 27/12/2024 00:07

Ok, so manufacturers are making the brake lights too bright - my guess is that this is all about the aesthetic, to make the car look good, and nothing to do with necessity or safety.

I'm not sure about that.
My DH has an old banger...err, I mean priceless classic...from the 1980s and the lights are terrible both from the seeing and being seen perspective. I was following him in it at night a couple of months ago and when we got home I told him that I thought his brake lights weren't working. They were, it's just that I had forgotten how shit lights used to be. I don't think it's just aesthetics.
I agree that it's a bit irritating sitting behind cars with their brake lights on for a long time though, much like being behind someone who has left their rear fog light on when it is no longer needed, and if I am definitely going to be a stationary for a long time I do put my car in Park so my brake lights go off. But in reality "stationary" traffic is in fact just really slowly moving traffic and it kind of defeats the object of features like hill hold if you go into park each time you stop at all.

JC03745 · 27/12/2024 00:26

Tusktusk · 27/12/2024 00:10

@JC03745 If it’s not something you’ve considered an issue, then you have never noticed it yourself when you are the driver behind?

I’m asking because I am now truly wondering if I have problem with my vision.

Although I have literally no other issues to report with lights or otherwise.

No OP, I haven't noticed brake lights being a problem for me. I wear glasses and do actually find bright sunshine an issue, so often wear sunglasses or a hat in the summer.

When did you last have an eye test?

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 27/12/2024 00:28

I have an EV with one pedal driving. It means I rarely use my brake pedal, but when I start to lift my foot off the accelerator it starts to brake and my brake lights come on. I have no idea if they stay on when I’m stationary though tbh, quite possibly. I don’t move into neutral when I’m stationary in traffic because I don’t need to, even if on a hill. I’ve never thought of brake lights being a problem, though I struggle with bright headlights though, either oncoming or behind me, I try and avoid driving in the dark as much as I can now.