Why is that drivers don't use their hand brake at traffic lights.?

Question

Especially at night, you are behind a vehicle waiting at traffic signals or a junction and their right foot is permanantly on the foot brake. Their brake lights dazzle the driver behind and they are so frustrating. Does this ever happen to you and do you find it annoying?

Answer 1

Though many people call it a hand brake the actual name is EMERGENCY BRAKE. Is intended for emergency use because it can stop your vehicle from full speed in case your main brakes where to fail (don't attempt this unless is an emergency because it is design to probably only work a few times at full speed). Is used when you park because it serves as an emergency fail safe system if your vehicle where to disengage from park or come out of gear, but is not intended to be used every time you stop on a traffic light.

Answer 2

wtf are you crazy?

Answer 3

If I were to have used my handbrake at a traffic light nobody would go anywhere fast when the light turned green.  My brake would not have released, because the cables were rusted and would have stuck in place.  Believe it or not, some people don't know where they are or how to use them, C'mon now how many people even read their owners manuals?  Just read some of the questions in here.

Answer 4

its easier to use it

Answer 5

In the UK, using the handbrake at a traffic light that has just turned to red is recommended. Then placing the gears in neutral, especially for manual change, should also be adopted. All these actions help to avoid accidents caused by inadvertent 'foot slip' , or a shunt from behind.

With automatic, it is tempting to hold the car on the gear, with foot brake on, but the same rule applies.

Compared to holding the car on clutch, or on foot brake for a fast start, all this sounds very unnecessary, but it's safer in the long run!

Answer 6

Because they're tossers. And to those who drive automatics, I can tell you that I've had 5 autos (got one at the moment), and they all came equipped with a fully functioning handbrake - just like a manual car.

And Americans - in the UK the handbrake is for holding the car stationary when stopped. We don't have such thing as an "emergency brake".

Answer 7

Yes, it happens to me, and yes, I find it annoying!

And in response to BFH, I'm from Earth, and when I learned to drive it was a driving test failure not to use the handbrake/parking brake at traffic lights.

I can see there is mixed opinion about this one, but it is not going to stop me putting my heads and spots on main beam when it happens to me !

Answer 8

Every driver is supposed to have the brake lights on when stopped at a traffic light so that the driver behind you sees them and stops, even if that driver does not see the traffic light.

Answer 9

yes it can be bad at lights at night with some of the new bulbs in some makes which are very bright.........but it does show there clearly stationary when people approach from behind,especially if there moving quickly and if your ever hit from the rear you will find your handbrake will not keep you from being pushed forward in to possible danger IE junction or roundabout............so its not all that bad, people do far more dangerous things in cars you should be worried about.

Answer 10

What friggin planet are you from? Why would you use the hand brake if you aren't parking?

Answer 11

You are correct....and some of these answers are terrible.  According to the highway code when stopped at traffic lights especially at night because of dazzling the driver behind you...use your hanbrake once you have brought your vehicle to a stop.  As we say...."when a pause becomes a wait - use the handbrake".....this is also to keep good control of the vehicle and also avoids the unecessary roll back many drivers do because they try to balance their clutch...badly!!!

Answer 12

Laziness.

Answer 13

It's just a bad habit we get into i think we all do it at some point ,i know i do !! :)

Edit : You are quite right in what you say in the UK you are taught to apply your handbrake when you have stopped at traffic lights and also put the car out of gear !!

Answer 14

the hand brake is the emergency brake.  it is only used when the vehicle is parked or in an emergency when you regular brakes fail.....hand brakes are manually employed with no brake fluid involved, just a cable

Answer 15

Because they are not good drivers, just the sort of prats that are now in the majority on our roads,brake lights are what are really for an emergency, with high wattage elements that should not be on for too long or they will burn out, do these nincompoops ever check their brake lights? If you have your brakes on when stopped as they should be, and someone drives into you as so often happens these days, ( witness the debris at roundabouts, traffic lights,etc,etc) it will go along way to prevent whiplash.

Answer 16

I drive an automatic so I never use the handbrake, just the footbrake.  Brake lights don't dazzle you wet wuss.

Answer 17

Drivers in the UK are actually taught to use the hand brake if the car is going to be stopped longer than a few seconds.  Like many have said, just habit of not doing it I suppose or lazy but think people are answering that drive american automatics instead of 'proper' manual cars like here in the UK.

Answer 18

Because the parking brake is used to park, and hopefully they aren't parked at the red light.  Are you always this easily annoyed, or are you just having a bad day today?

Answer 19

Just laziness and bad manners. All they seem to be bothered about is what goes in inside their own cars.After all it only takes a moment to "secure" the vehicle

I totally agree with you on this one. The brightness of some of the more modern brake lights can cause physical pain to some people.

Before somebody gets on the high horse I don't mean just the driver! Passengers cen be affected too

Answer 20

hi tango i quite agree, most of them are so inconsiderate, don't you think.

Answer 21

Bad but common driving skills...and I do find it annoying. Never mentioned it to anyone before in case they'd think I was being petty.

Answer 22

Yes - It happens to me. No - I don't find it annoying. Try stopping your car a little further back or wearing night driving glasses if it bothers you so much.