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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:
Original poster
Tusktusk · 27/12/2024 00:36

@JC03745 I wear glasses. Last test was a year ago.

OP posts:
TypingoftheDead · 27/12/2024 00:54

I think the lights are too bright, but as a PP said, they used to be shit so… is there a happy medium to be had?
I remember being driven home by my brother once, from a theatre in the city at night and one particular car coming towards us had such intensely bright headlights, I couldn’t even block them out by closing my eyes and I was in the back seat!

HelplessSoul · 27/12/2024 05:01

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.

You clearly know nothing about cars.

Brake lights are meant to be bright - so that in inclement (or any) weather, they can be seen.

By cars, pedestrians and all and sundry.

Its in a slew of automotive legislation and certification rules that all vehicle manufacturers have to conform to.

Aesthetics my arse.

taxguru · 27/12/2024 05:26

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!

Why is that different to putting a manual cars handbrake on and changing gear into neutral? Just not sure why automatics are somehow harder? Or is it that automatic drivers are just accustomed to doing nothing?

SnapdragonToadflax · 27/12/2024 05:28

Do you not find headlights dazzling too, OP? I know lots of people find they're too bright nowadays (including me) but I've never heard anyone complain about brake lights. They not usually that bright? Was the car in front very tall perhaps, so they were at the wrong level for you?

It wouldn't occur to me that the car behind would be dazzled by my brakes. I'd put the handbrake on if it were certain we'd be sat there a while, but not in a normal traffic jam because you're always having to edge forward.

Chariots77 · 27/12/2024 05:29

I hate it too. And of course YANBU - it's literally in the highway code that after 5 seconds of stopping the handbrake should be applied - and the reason is to avoid dazzling drivers behind.

BigMingeEnergy · 27/12/2024 05:30

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.

I have this too. And I agree.

I'm not gonna be putting my car in park and using a button handbrake because the person behind me unbeknownst to me has sensitive eyes.

BigMingeEnergy · 27/12/2024 05:30

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.

Not all of us have a 'hand break.'

Chariots77 · 27/12/2024 05:33

You're meant to put your car in park and use the handbrake - legally. If you don't like or can't comply with the rules of the road, you shouldn't be driving. It's really not very difficult to put a car in park.

tigger1001 · 27/12/2024 05:45

Was in a bad traffic jam about a month ago. Sat stationary for almost an hour. And got home with a migraine due to the overly bright brake lights of the car in front.

Car lights have got so bright - to the point they are dangerous.

And all the automatic functions in new farms mean drivers forget the effects on others.

So yanbu op.

Redbushteaforme · 27/12/2024 05:56

As you wear glasses anyway, ask your optician about getting some with anti-glare coating. Mine have been a game-changer with glare from oncoming headlights, and they may help you with brake light problems too.

EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness · 27/12/2024 06:02

How bright some cars brake lights and head lights are pissess me off, but that's at the manufacturers, they don't need to be blinding. It might be worth asking your optometrist if there's anything that can help you with this.

ForReasonsUnknown · 27/12/2024 06:19

You could always stop a bit further away if the break lights are blinding you you must be up their arse 🙄

RubyOrca · 27/12/2024 06:43

A car having their brake lights on while they are braking is a feature not a bug.

I agree that many modern lights are overly bright and do interfere with vision. But that’s not the driver choosing that. Sit further back so the lights are less bright for you.

HowToDressYourDaughter · 27/12/2024 06:45

they could equally arrange for them to reduce brightness while the car is stopped to prevent dazzling drivers of cars stopped behind them.

But that would be really dangerous! Imagine if you were the last car in the queue, surely you'd want the cars driving up behind you to notice you?

I've not had a problem with brake lights but I do find it increasingly difficult with the bright headlights coming towards me. It's especially bad at night in town because they're so blinding you don't see pedestrians, invariably dressed in black, coming up to the zebra crossings.

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 27/12/2024 07:03

I have a theory that the lights you need for driving in town at night are different to the lights you need for driving on unlit country roads. But manufacturers don't want their cars to have a restricted market so they give them the highest spec they can. This inevitably leads to over specs for some purposes.

buttonousmaximous · 27/12/2024 07:27

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?

I agree re tge blindness it's awful.

Oodlesandoodlesofnoodles · 27/12/2024 07:30

I drive an automatic and if you don’t put your foot on the break it moves slowly forward. I suppose eventually in a big traffic jam I would put it in park and take the handbrake off but not for a while.

Nineandtwenty · 27/12/2024 07:31

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.

Not me who initially said it but no it's never occurred to me because it doesn't bother me in the slightest. How old are you? My first thought when reading the OP was that you should see an optometrist.

Doseofdopamine · 27/12/2024 07:36

Me too. It's also not the correct way to drive. You should park with your handbrake on if you're stopped at lights. But then very few drivers actually drive correctly.
I find them blinding and actually have to cover my eyes with my hand!
Same with ticking indicators, yes you're in the right turn only lane, I know which way you're going, no need. I am ND though and cannot stand bright lights in general.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 27/12/2024 07:39

I don't find brake lights too bright, but headlights yes...some of them are so intense now. That said, I'm sure mine are cause the car is high, and we get flashed on occasion.

Ours is an automatic, so we would need to go into park in order to use a hand brake. I rarely get stuck in proper traffic, so don't tend to do it. The car does have eco though, so does shut the engine off at traffic lights etc

HelplessSoul · 27/12/2024 07:42

Doseofdopamine · 27/12/2024 07:36

Me too. It's also not the correct way to drive. You should park with your handbrake on if you're stopped at lights. But then very few drivers actually drive correctly.
I find them blinding and actually have to cover my eyes with my hand!
Same with ticking indicators, yes you're in the right turn only lane, I know which way you're going, no need. I am ND though and cannot stand bright lights in general.

So you complain about other drivers not driving correctly, but get the hump when a driver turning right in a right-only lane is indicating properly as they are meant to?

Anyotherdude · 27/12/2024 07:43

You need some night driving glasses, OP. The new headlights and brake lights are causing a lot of issues for a lot of people and you can get these reasonably priced from Amazon - there are even clip-on ones available for glasses wearers…

soupfiend · 27/12/2024 07:45

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.

Unless the OP has other concerns the optician would likely say that its a common complaint because, guess what, lights on modern cars are too bright, there are countless complaints and petitions going about it and have done for a couple of years.

Blushingm · 27/12/2024 07:46

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.

They don't - it's a function call auto hold. Most cars with electronic handbrakes have this 🙄