Automatics

[supapapa]

Why do drivers of automatics keep their brakes on at traffic lights?

[Mick-Talbot]

I don't usually put the vehicle in park at traffic lights but If it annoys the driver behind me then I will make an effort in future.

[Baldric]

///I drive an automatic and have my brake lights on at traffic lights exactly the same as I do when I'm driving a geared car.///

Do automatics not have gears then?

[craft1948]

I have an automatic where if you come to a stop, the engine cuts out, if I took my foot off the brake the engine would start up again..............

[TWR]

Why do drivers of automatics keep their brakes on at traffic lights?

Why? Ask yourself why. this is a clue.>>>>>>>>brakes

[Mick-Talbot]

brakes and not breaks then, TWR?

[sara3]

I have the pleasure of London traffic (jams) most days, and it drives me nuts when drivers sit with their foot on the brake. Being blinded by bright red lights at eye level, a few feet in front of your face is nothing short of ignorance.

[Prudie]

Baldric of course and you knew exactly what I meant. Manual if you prefer.

[barney4444]

If I stop behind a car at lights etc and they have the brake lights on then I switch my head lights on to main beam, sometimes they get the message and take the trouble to use the handbrake..

[bednobs]

i don't really get what the problem is with keeping the brakes on

[Mick-Talbot]

If I am sat at lights with my brake lights on and someone behind me puts their head lights on to main beam I react by putting on my rear fogs.

[barney4444]

We do have sum fun Mick..

[sara3]

Bednobs, it's blinding for whoever is stuck behind you.

[Mick-Talbot]

Luckily I have a brake light in the rear window.....so I can really give the driver behind me 'what for'

[sara3]

I'm surprised your rear window is still intact, Mr Talbot!

[cazzz1975]

I have driven an automatic, great cars, I would imagine that most auto drivers are not aware of the brake issue, so they are not setting out to irritate you, less annoying than tailgaiters...or tailgaiters with their 'automatic lighting sensors' dazzling you at close range.

[RATTER15]

To be honest I have never noticed a problem with break lights while waiting at traffic lights!

Maybe drivers are just more considerate in my neck of the woods.

[DJHawkes]

I've been driving automatics since I was 17 and i passed my test in one in 1974 and I always sit at traffic lights with my right foot on the brake, I never use the left foot as it is not necesary. I wouldn;t put the handbrake on either, infact I don't use the handbrake when I park up, except when it's a hill park, I just put the gear into Park and the handbrake isn't needed, saves the cable life.

[Khandro]

There are several level-crossings near where I live, when the barriers come down, I not only put it into 'Park', I switch off the engine as well, re-starting as the train passes, over a year I must save maybe a couple of hours worth of petrol (and pollution) at idling speed, - whose a clever boy then? :-)

[craft1948]

My car has an 'eco stop/start' function, so if I brake and stop, the engine automatically cuts out, then when I lift my foot from the brake it starts up again. For some reason the daughter does not trust this so when she borrows my car she switches this function off.............

[DJHawkes]

i was always led to believe that switching the ignition on and off used as much petrol as sitting with the engine running for a few minutes.