People who sit on their brake lights give me the rage

[Tusktusk]

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?

Like a lot of people I find modern headlights coming at me blinding, but I've never had an issue with brake lights. Maybe ask your optician about it?

They're not quite as blinding because they're red but a bright light shone in your eyes is still blinding

Sitting further back in the traffic doesnt always work either because depending on where the lights are positioned on the car, you can sometimes hide them by pulling up closer.

Me too, they are too bright and give negative images in my vision !

No I don't 'get the hump', wtf? And I'm not exactly going around complaining about it. I saw a thread on the topic and responded. In RL I just cover my eyes whilst peeking out for the lights changing. Just one of the many coping mechanisms us ND have to devise to get through the day. I find a ticking bright light in my eyes distressing. Clearly you can't get your head around that because you personally don't.
I agree people should indicate where appropriate. But if there is only one way you can go in a lane then there really is no need. There is a particular set of lights near my home that I can't avoid. It's 4 way so when you're stopped , you're stopped for a good while, and every bloody driver sits with their foot on the brake and their indicators ticking away, probably the same drivers who never indicate on a roundabout.

No it isn't and those super white head lights on full beam are dangerously blinding!!!

I personally prefer it to a handbrake. When the light goes off I know moving is imminent

Indicating is for the benefit of all road users including pedestrians, especially if roads have markings that have deteriorated and arent clear.

But as per your earlier post, you complained about people not driving properly then u-turned and complained about those turning right in a right hand land using indicators - which is the correct thing to do.

Doesnt matter whether there is "no need", its about being safe when driving.

What you are doing is cherry picking safety. It should be all or nothing, but as we know, all drivers are guilty of doing something wrong, some or all of the time.

Lots of modern cars don’t have handbrakes.

@Tusktusk you're not wrong. It's bluddy annoying and people who don't notice are probably in a similarly large vehicle. Most cars are big these days and people favour SUVs. I'm in a small car and it is blinding.

Anyway, the rules of the road agree with us @Tusktusk even if most people on your poll don't.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158

Rule 114
You MUST NOT

use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226).
In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.

God no! I too get the rage at this.

Don't they know what a handbrake (or modern equivalent) is.

As per others, the headlights are a much bigger issue. Never heard anyone complain about brake lights, do you have astigmatism?

I had a massive 4x4 type pick up truck come towards me recently, his headlights were level with my face. I was so blinded I literally had to stop and wait for him to pass me. Also, is it just me or does it make it impossible to see if some cars are indicating? I keep having to stop at roundabouts because I can't see if people are indicating or going straight on.

@HelplessSoul

Ok, calm down. It's just some randoms chatting on a thread on the internet. Obviously there is nothing any of us can actually do about other people's driving.
People come on here to complain about all sorts of things, I mean it's pretty much what this site is for. I will continue to find break lights and flashing indicators distressing regardless of your opinion unfortunately.

I've offered no opinion of my own.

I'm just calling you out on your double-standards about people not driving properly, and when they do (indicating right in a right hand lane), you seem to think its not needed.

I'm absolutely calm, have no worries there :)

Thanks everyone, the poll isn’t going my way but a lot of you are reporting similar problems so at least I know it’s not just me.

Especial thanks @SodOffbacktoaibu who found the actual rule against sitting on foot brakes for the exact reasons I hate it.

I agree with PPs that the height of some vehicles makes it more uncomfortable for those of us that still drive normal sized cars. My car isn’t even small, it’s medium.

I stand by my point that they are designed unnecessarily bright, for aesthetics. Yes, brake lights need to be seen and noticeable but there is plenty of wiggle room between noticeable and dazzling.

I do have astigmatism yes. I have always had this and my acuity has always been fully corrected with my prescription glasses. I’m 50.

I appreciate the advice about night time glasses and will look into getting these.

Those of you voting that I am being unreasonable, I refer you back to the Highway Code rule, quoted a couple of posts back.

It's not law that you have to do this.

@MagicalTimes99 Is the Highway Code not law?

I’ve had multiple migraine attacks because of this

however. I do know some autohold functions keep the brake lights on.

@Tusktusk

"I stand by my point that they are designed unnecessarily bright, for aesthetics."

So all the millions spent by car manufacturers to ensure their vehicles comply with legislation and safety requirements is just for looks??

Next you'll be telling us the Earth if flat and other silly conspiracies. Your "point" couldnt be more wrong - its worrying you think you are right when you are so very, very, very wrong.

But people aren't sitting 'foot on brake' - the auto hold is on which replaces the need to put on and take off a hand brake 🙄

Totally totally agree ! And also to head lights! I was driving around after Xmas Eve between mum and big sis and 3 times the cars didn’t dip headlights - totally blinding - I asked my sister when I arrived if this was normal
for her area and she said a lot of people have cars that do it automatically now

but it doesn’t seem to work and feels so dangerous! I had to flash at the cars to get them to lower their main beams

Perhaps glasses would help op? I don’t technically need them and the prescription is really low but they have an anti glare coating which I find helps a bit especially at night also when sitting at a computer for a long time.

@HelplessSoul I am quite sure they are complying with current safety legislation. I do not suggest that they should design lights that are less bright than safety legislation dictates. I merely suggested that the extreme level of brightness is not merely to comply with legislation, as the brightness (on some cars) no doubt far exceeds whatever the legislation requires. And this will be for aesthetic design reasons. Car manufacturers want to make their cars look pretty so people will buy them.

No, it isn't.

If you focus on the cars ahead of the car directly in front of you you can be preparing to move before that car does. I always have my handbrake on when stationary even if I'm first in the queue, and there's no delay because I keep an eye on all the traffic lights so have warning that mine are going to change.

It annoys me more when people put their fog lights on when there is a very light mist (or worse, when it's raining). It is almost never foggy enough in the UK (in an urban setting) to actually need them, and they can be downright dangerous if you don't switch them off once you can see a car close behind you.