What do backroomers do at traffic lights at night?
I only ask as I normally turn my headlights off if I am in a queue, and also take my foot off the foot brake once the car behind has stopped.
I do this because I think I am being courteous, and reducing dazzle for other road users.
The dazzle element was particularly pertinent tonight whilst waiting at lights that take for ever to change to join the M5 in heavy rain.
To my irritation, The car in front kept his brake lights on for the duration of the wait and they were quite bright.
It was a Police Motorway car, so, was he being discourteous, am I being over-courteous or is there some rule that I've missed?
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Unless I have to wait for some considerable time (over a minute) I just leave my foot on the brake. No worries of burning the autobox out as it automatically drops into neutral if the brake lights are on for more than 2 seconds. Please don't try and educate me by telling me that I will warp my brake discs by doing this; I've been doing this same practice for a number of years now and have never warped the discs once.
I also leave my headlights on dip beam.
If for any reason the car's brake lights in front of me are dazzling because he has left his foot on the brake, I just look elsewhere and not directly at them.
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I think it is good manners to take your foot off the brake and apply the handbrake in a queue, particularly in these days of high level brake lamps etc. This seems worse on wet nights.
Merc owners seem particularly prone to this,and their LED lights are particularly bright.
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If (as can happen at night) there's not much traffic around, then I put the handbrake on *but* also keep my foot on the brake pedal - hopefully will help prevent me from being pushed into the car in front, or into the crossing traffic if I'm the front vehicle. Once there's a few cars beind me then I'll take my foot off the pedal *if* the car immediately behind has left a reasonable gap.
I wouldn't dream of turning my headlights off. Bear in mind if there's no streetlights (unlikely at traffic lights, I know) you'd be committing an offence.
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During the 0.000000012 of a second between you disengaging your handbrake and, depressing your clutch, engaging 1st gear and rengaging clutch, won't the impatient person behind you display his lack of courtesy by tooting like a maniac as you hold up his progress to his very improtant meeting. After all, he could make zillions (or is that Brazilians?)in that time
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People tooting/flashing lights behind me actually make me move off slower, and then dawdle slowly up the box from 1st to 2nd etc. If I can induce a coronary in just one of these stress heads and get them off the road for a while it would be worth it. Its a different matter if the lights flashing are blue mind you!
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Think you may have been unlucky if it was a motorway patrol type vehicle - assuming it wasn;'t being driven by a civvy mechanic (it does happen).
In RoSPA training with a current class 1 driver it is definitely frowned on the keep the rear brake light blinding the guy behind.
Same with trafficators (are they called that anymore?), once the signal has been given, don't sit is a queue for minute after minute if the intention is understood - you can always repeat the signal before you execute the manuouver.
Maybe the person you saw, was not thinking about the discomfort he was causing at the time, but one would hope the courtesy would be shown more often than not.
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It would be polite to turn off the rear fog lights that have been left on since the last shower of rain.
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When I was learning to drive in the 1970's the rule was to apply the handbrake and take foot off the pedal. Similarly switch off indicators when in a queue.
Subsequently, when working toward my IAM Advanced Driving Test, the same advice was given. Seems a sensible approach.
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I switch off my indicators in a queue and put the handbrake on although admittedly that's only because I've heard you can warp your discs otherwise.
Brake lights have never really bothered me when I'm in a queue.
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When im at a set of lights, i always apply my handbrake with my feet away from the pedals, as i've read in HJ's book, fair play with the later LED's
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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At traffic lights I turn off my headlights, particularly if I'm at the head of the queue, out of courtesy.
I apply the handbrake and put the car into neutral because (a) that was what I was taught to do, and (b) I think it's the safest thing to do.
I do not leave my foot on the brake pedal, because (a) to do so is putting unnecessary strain on the brake master cylinder seals (and servo parts) and could result in a loss of fluid if there is even the smallest of fluid leaks in the pressurised part of the system, (b) it wears out the brake light bulbs and (c) I like to be courteous to the following driver.
There is too much "I'm all right, Jack" attitude these days.
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L\'escargot.
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At traffic lights I turn off my headlights, particularly if I'm at the head of the queue, out of courtesy.
You do WHAT? What about the tremendous stresses on the light switch being used more often than neccessary? The increased risk of bulb failure through repeated thermic cycling?
Oooh, I'm having a coronary just thinking through all the possible reasons why you shouldn't do this. All of them involve the minutest amount of additional wear and tear on your car and none focus on the fact THAT YOU TURN YOUR LIGHTS OFF AT NIGHT!!!
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Humble apologies. Random extraneous "c" inserted in necessary. Quite unecessary.
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>> At traffic lights I turn off my headlights, particularly if I'm >> at the head of the queue, out of courtesy. You do WHAT?
......out of courtesy. Courtesy makes for a nicer world. During my first decade or two of driving everybody did it ~ out of mutual courtesy. Apparently courtesy these days is something to be ridiculed.
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L\'escargot.
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>> >> At traffic lights I turn off my headlights, particularly if >> I'm >> >> at the head of the queue, out of courtesy. >> >> You do WHAT? ......out of courtesy. Courtesy makes for a nicer world. During my first decade or two of driving everybody did it ~ out of mutual courtesy. Apparently courtesy these days is something to be ridiculed. -- L\'escargot.
I'm with you on this one L\'escargot.
When stationary, headlights serve no useful purpose.
I am old enough to remember when courtesy was the norm.
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(b) it wears out the brake light bulbs
Good grief.
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>> (b) it wears out the brake light bulbs Good grief.
They don't grow on trees you know.
;-)
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I always apply the handbrake and put in to neutral. There is less strain on components, but more impotantly if you are holding on the footbrake and get rear ended your foot will leave the brake (and clutch if in a manual) and you will move forward.
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I am having a right old chuckle at this thread - do you lot still unplug the TV every night?
FWIW, i do use the handbrake rather than the foot brake at traffic lights etc, partly so i don't blind him or her behind, partly so i can put my foot on the accelerator and get away quicker.
I would never turn my headlights off though!
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Handbrake on hills just because it's the correct thing to do, and feels safer.
Don't turn my lights off though.
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When I was learning to drive in the 1970's the rule was to apply the handbrake and take foot off the pedal. Similarly switch off indicators when in a queue. Subsequently, when working toward my IAM Advanced Driving Test, the same advice was given. Seems a sensible approach.
Aprilla
That's exactly what I wanted to say, but I wouldn't have been able to make sound so polite and reasonable. Well done. How about lessons?
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I always use a handbrake at traffic lights, unless I have no one behind me as the brake lights act as a warning to other traffic that I am stopped. I never turn my headlights off, but I do use the manual adjuster to lower the beams when behind a vehicle, even when driving, as I find other cars headlights illuminating my roof lining very annoying.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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I have never been dazzled by brake lights,or headlights when they are where they should be,when a vehicle is on the wrong side of the road with them on I do get annoyed.
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But if you're stationary behind a car with modern eye-level brake lights on full blaze, how can you not be dazzled?
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But if you're stationary behind a car with modern eye-level brake lights on full blaze, how can you not be dazzled?
Simple. Don't look directly at them.
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But if you're stationary behind a car with modern eye-level brake lights on full blaze, how can you not be dazzled?
I just cannot recall being dazzled,probably looking elsewhere.
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Not quite related to lights but etiquette nonetheless;
In the UK, if you're pulled by the police, are you supposed to get out of the car or remain seated?
I know that in the states, you can get shot if you do the wrong thing!
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I wouldn't say I make a habit of it, but I've always worked on the principle of: switch hazards on, turn engine off, get out with hands visible, walk in a straight line towards the policeman, smile sweetly and ask "how can I help you?"
Therefore I'm not going to drive off / be dangerous / produce a weapon / fail a breath test or be an argumentative nuisance!
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What do backroomers do at traffic lights at night?
Yawn, radio-surf, pick my nose, text, scratch myself, change the CD, search for my Wrigley's, stretch, break wind, munch sweets, drum my fingers on the wheel, look bored.
Roughly in that order.
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What do backroomers do at traffic lights at night?
Following on from Bradgate's refreshing honesty I would say:
Rant at the MORON in front who, if they had just put their bloomin' foot down and not been such a NANCY would have got through the lights and let me get through on amber instead of sitting here wasting another 90 seconds of my incredibly important life and..... why is my left arm numb? My chest is hurting! I'm short of breath.... what's goin.............. Aaaaargh!
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Yes it was a policeman driving and it was a merc with the bright high level rear light. Incidentally he also kept his indicators going the whole time. Like others have mentioned here, I also turn mine off in a queue unless I'm at the back or front. It seems pointless to keep them on if you are in a designated lane.
I'm glad to see that I'm not alone and on the whole backroomers seem to be a courteous lot.
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Courteous? Mad as badgers more like it.
If the lights went out on the car in front I'd assume it had mechanical problems and be preparing to drive around it when the traffic lights changed.
It would certainly explain the number of cars driven around Bournemouth at night with no lights on by those of a "courteous" age.
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As an aside, if your car is rhd, the lights shine offset to the left on dip beam. If you think you'll dazzle someone facing you at the lights you may want to get your headlamp alignment checked. Or stoo driving on the right.
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"If the lights went out on the car in front I'd assume it had mechanical problems and be preparing to drive around it when the traffic lights changed."
Obvious hint number four hundred and five: If you want to do this, always stop with the bottom of the tyres of the car ahead JUST at your bonnet line - ie so you can JUST see them. Then you will always be able to pull around a car in front if you need to.
On the same theme, interestingly, my father in law advocates being RIGHT up to the car in front when on an upward slope. All my instincts say no, give the other drive space in case he rolls back, but he says if that happens the other car will only roll an inch or three and not five feet, so the damage will be minimal or zero.
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Courteous? Mad as badgers more like it. If the lights went out on the car in front I'd assume it had mechanical problems and be preparing to drive around it when the traffic lights changed.
I, and others, are advocating extinguishing the headlights and the brake lights, NOT the rear lights or the front sidelights! Pay attention!
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L\'escargot.
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It would certainly explain the number of cars driven around Bournemouth at night with no lights on by those of a "courteous" age.
$till $kint,
So you think that being courteous when driving (or not) is related to age? What age do you consider to be the break point, and which side of it are you?
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L\'escargot.
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$till $kint, So you think that being courteous when driving (or not) is related to age? What age do you consider to be the break point, and which side of it are you? -- L\'escargot.
No, but I do think that certain eccentricities can be explained by age, and the driving practices that prevailed at the time a test was taken often continue long after they have ceased to be appropriate. You clearly believe your actions to be courteous, however if those that you extend the courtesy to see it as unusual, odd or distracting, you're actually being discourteous.
Every evening I sit at a set of staggered lights to turn right, either on my bike or in the car. I have never, not once, been distracted dazzled or blinded by a car at the staggered section directly opposite.
This set of lights is less than 200yards from my house and I negotiate them every day.
Driving is a constant stream of reactions to external inputs. There is no place for pavlovian response in driving.
$$
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I can think of times when excessive "courtesy" is plain annoying. People who stop unexpectedly in a main road to let someone out of a side turning or entrance; people who spend ages thanking you instead of getting on with it and out of your way; people who indicate that they are going to pull over from the outside lane of a motorway but don't bother for a few hundred yards.
I would add here that I am now a very patient driver, so while I don't suffer road rage with such people, I do wonder whether they really ought to be let loose witha car.
$$ is right - nothing should be done automatically when driving, each action should be considered and weighed up according to the conditions. A bit more concentration from everyone would go a long way.
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Incidentally he also kept his indicators going the whole time. Like others have mentioned here, I also turn mine off in a queue unless I'm at the back or front. It seems pointless to keep them on if you are in a designated lane.
And yet, those of us on two wheels easing up the inside of a queue (and the odd pedestrian) might appreciate a continuing indication of your intentions.
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"If the lights went out on the car in front I'd assume it had mechanical problems and be preparing to drive around it when the traffic lights changed."
I think you'l find they are talking about switching their headlights off. That leaves their sidelights on.
V
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On the policeman question, it depends whether he has stopped just you, or whether it part of some general exercise, eg asking for possible witnesses to some incident, etc. In that case it would merely delay everybody if you got out.
But on an individual stop I tend to think getting out is polite, and also gives you more psychological advantage. Like being called into the boss's office and given a very low seat - you feel small and under pressure right from the start. Policemen are so small these days one feels more confident standing up.
Of course, if it is dark and you turn the engine off, the headlights go out as well, so meeting the other point of etiquette too.
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I think you'l find they are talking about switching their headlights off. That leaves their sidelights on.
But it still begs the question as to why? If the lights are set up correctly, they won't dazzle anyone anyway.
Courteous? More like a pointless excercise to me.
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>>If the lights are set up correctly, they won't dazzle anyone anyway.
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I agree
An exception for me. If I am at the head of the queue at my local crossroads I am stopped on a significant upslope. That situation does cause dazzle to the waiting traffic opposite. It is a long three phase lights sequence so I think switching off dips is a polite thing to do.
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>> What do backroomers do at traffic lights at night? Yawn, radio-surf, pick my nose, text, scratch myself, change the CD, search for my Wrigley's, stretch, break wind, munch sweets, drum my fingers on the wheel, look bored.
Assuming you're not joking ....... a frivolous approach to driving is inappropriate in today's traffic conditions.
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L\'escargot.
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Give me strength.
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8< SNIP 8<
Comments regarding content of this forum, or how it's moderated should be directed toward the global moderators email address, as mentioned in the sticky at the top of the page. DD
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L'escargot,
Assuming you're not joking...a pompous, self-righteous, lecturing approach to my posting is inappropriate in this forum's discussions.
Now get back in your shell.
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L'escargot, Assuming you're not joking...a pompous, self-righteous, lecturing approach to my posting is inappropriate in this forum's discussions. Now get back in your shell.
Well, I got a reaction! ;-)
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L\'escargot.
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