@Roottootemblowinootsoot

I should think the flashing of the high beam would fall into the first dot point under 114.

 

I find this UK brake light rule rather interesting. It doesn't seem to have a wide following around the world though.

 

Other parts of the world do have rules where the flashing of high beam would be illegal:

 

(1) The driver of a vehicle must not use the vehicle's headlights on high-beam, or allow the vehicle’s headlights to be used on high-beam, if the driver is driving: (a) less than 200 metres behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction as the driver, or (b) less than 200 metres from an oncoming vehicle.

 

... drivers may not use their high beams within 500 feet (150 m) of oncoming traffic, or within 300 feet (91 m) of traffic in front of them.

 

and I suppose if you're attempting to convey a message through your headlights on the topic of brake lights to the driver of the vehicle in front of you...

 

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/967936/driving-law-UK-flash-car-headlights-fine

 

Rule 110 states: “Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there.

“Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.”

I would not worry about it the Police Scotland officer never, or the one previous to that.

Drawing attention to them without exiting my vehicle.

One does expect a better standard of driving from professionals and trained drivers...

 

If one can help make a highly trained traffic officer aware of what they might be doing and how that appears it might well be someones public duty.

 

I am pulling your plonker by the way.   But i did do that just recently with a marked XC90.

 

The rear brake light thing is certainly not common outwith the UK.

But then the USA seems to be responsible for the 'high level' rear brake light being accepted as the standard and is safe.

It seems that German Car designers or designers of German Cars took the 3rd / high level brake light to an extreme, 

& rear brake lights,

and then Volvo went way over the top on Brake lights.  I did very much like Dim Dip headlights and the DRL's  (tail lights) on at the rear as well.

  Funny how crap some rear lights are on modern cars and not meaning dim lights not seen from a distance,

as much of Europe can have really crap weather and busy roads and gridlocked roads.

Edited 16 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

That's the trouble when you see red. 😁 Makes you do things that are not helpful. 

 

On a more serious note, the problem is that most people simply dont know their brake lights are on and probably sit there thinking what is that idiot behind on about. So unless they get out and ask you the action isn't going to change anything except perhaps increase your risk of physical injury.

 

My pet hate is the large 4x4 (SUV) that sits there with their headlamps directly in my rear view mirror as they are either driving too close or have simply stopped in just the wrong spot. Still I suppose it helps to reduce the impact of the tail/brake lamps in front. 🤣🤣 First world problem right enough.

 

 

On 15/01/2020 at 15:29, Mickey43 said:

Why would brake lights being on annoy you anyway?

I see it all the time and it doesn't bother me in the least.  It's not as if it's fog lights or full beam in your face.

 

Probably not the best day for me to answer this having had eye surgery yesterday where the outcome is that I am now permanently blind in the eye, forgive my typos as I lost the close vision eye and the other cant really see the screen or keyboard.

 

Any amount of usually age related eye problems (which will happen to everyone one day) will cause you to be sensitive to bright lights shining into the eyes, even people with perfect vision are troubled by rear fog lights being used in wet gloomy weather on a busy motorway.

 

The problem is far far worse with LED brake lights which can be much brighter then the regs were intended to allow (they still limit watts and not lumens) they are very directional and if you are right behind the vehicle the high level light will be shining into your eyes like an ophthalmologists instrument, or normal brake lights on 4x4's.

 

I recently did a Eurotunnel crossing and had an LED high level brake light shining into my eyes after 5 minutes into the journey, I got out and asked them to do something but they wouldn't because they wanted to charge their i_phones which were being hammered by every occupant.

Edited 16 January, 20206 yr by john999boy
Multiple repeats removed - see next post

Dont know what happened there, too painfull to continue at the computer so somone else will have to edit out the repeat

21 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Dont know what happened there, too painfull to continue at the computer so somone else will have to edit out the repeat

Might have to start wearing sunglasses in traffic jams even in the dark?

My thoughts on owning automatic cars for the last 20 years is that all you have to do is put it into drive. Then point and squirt with the gas/brake. Forget the manual driving process (depress clutch/move gear stick/release clutch etc) as it is no longer necessary. Just leave the drive selector in D unless you want to momentarily select sport. Let auto hold do its stuff when you stop at junctions/traffic queues etc.

 

When you get to your destination and are finally parked move the lever to P. The electronic handbrake comes on automatically.

1 hour ago, TerryMcK said:

My thoughts on owning automatic cars for the last 20 years is that all you have to do is put it into drive. Then point and squirt with the gas/brake. Forget the manual driving process (depress clutch/move gear stick/release clutch etc) as it is no longer necessary. Just leave the drive selector in D unless you want to momentarily select sport. Let auto hold do its stuff when you stop at junctions/traffic queues etc.

 

When you get to your destination and are finally parked move the lever to P. The electronic handbrake comes on automatically.

"That's the way to do it"...as Punch would say!

After over 30 years of driving Auto's and CVT's and Tiptronics & Servo Clutches and now the same and Automated Manuals for another 10 plus years.

Overdrive button for Autos to slow down, and gear changes and with CVT's back to B and with DSG's Petrol or Diesels sometimes manual down shifts and no brakes getting touched unless stopping.   Accelerator up or down for speed or less speed and gears for retarding forward motion.  

I have only ever crashed off a road when braking, never when decelerating and steering.

If you use the equipment the car is fitted with as intended, i.e. start/stop then pull up in D apply handbrake, engine will have stopped and when its time to move simply press the acelerator. I've never switched S/S off. I despise drivers who sit with their foot on the brake pedal whilst in a queue, it's blinding to the person behind, more so with LED rer lights!!!!!!!

Edited 19 January, 20206 yr by goath

10 hours ago, goath said:

If you use the equipment the car is fitted with as intended, i.e. start/stop then pull up in D apply handbrake, engine will have stopped and when its time to move simply press the acelerator. I've never switched S/S off. I despise drivers who sit with their foot on the brake pedal whilst in a queue, it's blinding to the person behind, more so with LED rer lights!!!!!!!

My cars equipment has autohold and I do use it as intended. This means that the brake lights are illuminated when I am stopped and I am not sitting with my foot on the brake pedal, so you can’t despise me

Edited 20 January, 20206 yr by Kenny R

Bloody hell...   Looked at this topic because like the OP, I too am new to DSG and I follow exactly what the OP does - if I'm waiting for any length of time I throw the car in neutral.

 

I was hoping for some info, but as per usual the thread is way off  - a very frustrating read. 

 

All I keep reading is issues with the DQ200, but I'm not entirely sure how it operates, so my reasoning for selecting neutral is that whilst waiting any length of time, by throwing it in neutral I'm disengaging the clutch. If the car sits stationary in Drive, is that akin to sitting with your foot on the clutch in a manual car? If so then no wonder there are problems with DSG.

 

My only issue selecting 'N' is the autohold doesn't engage - I therefore have to apply the auto brake manually.

 

 

P.S. If anyone were to switch on their full beam, they're the one's who'd be breaking the law, not me!   I dont give a toss if the person behind is frustrated by my brake lights just like I couldn't care less if the person in front of me sits with their brake lights on. 

On 21/01/2020 at 11:19, Scot5 said:

All I keep reading is issues with the DQ200, but I'm not entirely sure how it operates, so my reasoning for selecting neutral is that whilst waiting any length of time, by throwing it in neutral I'm disengaging the clutch. If the car sits stationary in Drive, is that akin to sitting with your foot on the clutch in a manual car? If so then no wonder there are problems with DSG.

When the car uses auto hold the clutches disengage, you can see that if you watch the rev counter. The revs drop to 800rpm. If you take the auto hold off the revs will climb to 1,000rpm, slightly enabling the clutches so the car will creep.

On 20/01/2020 at 09:01, Kenny R said:

My cars equipment has autohold and I do use it as intended. This means that the brake lights are illuminated when I am stopped and I am not sitting with my foot on the brake pedal, so you can’t despise me

Yes I can, you know your brake lights are illuminated - so use the Parking brake

On 21/01/2020 at 11:19, Scot5 said:

Bloody hell...   Looked at this topic because like the OP, I too am new to DSG and I follow exactly what the OP does - if I'm waiting for any length of time I throw the car in neutral.

 

I was hoping for some info, but as per usual the thread is way off  - a very frustrating read. 

 

All I keep reading is issues with the DQ200, but I'm not entirely sure how it operates, so my reasoning for selecting neutral is that whilst waiting any length of time, by throwing it in neutral I'm disengaging the clutch. If the car sits stationary in Drive, is that akin to sitting with your foot on the clutch in a manual car? If so then no wonder there are problems with DSG.

 

My only issue selecting 'N' is the autohold doesn't engage - I therefore have to apply the auto brake manually.

 

 

P.S. If anyone were to switch on their full beam, they're the one's who'd be breaking the law, not me!   I dont give a toss if the person behind is frustrated by my brake lights just like I couldn't care less if the person in front of me sits with their brake lights on. 

Sitting with your brake lights illuminated does break the law in the same way as full beam - read the Highway Code. Use stop/start and you will not have the engine running at all so no issues with gearbow running in neutral, stop, pul up parking brake. When ready to go press accelerator - job doine. PS usinhg E mode puits the car into neutral when you release the throttle so the gearbox is deigned for that anyway

6 hours ago, goath said:

Sitting with your brake lights illuminated does break the law in the same way as full beam - read the Highway Code.

 

Quote

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.
Law RVLR reg 27

 should “denotes a guideline or recommendation whenever noncompliance with the specification is permissible.”