• sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    4 days ago

    I think they should have it so there’s a type of “slow down” light that supplements the brake light for when your deceleration is from taking your foot off the gas.

    • Null User Object@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Please allow me this opportunity to jump in and complain about the minority, but not insignificant number, of people that don’t seem to be aware that that is even an option (just taking your foot off of the gas/accelerator to slowly decelerate).

      Every couple weeks or so I seem to find myself behind someone that’s always either accelerating, or braking, with the brake lights repeatedly flashing on momentarily for no apparent reason. It’s like they realize that they’re going just a little faster than they want, and definitely don’t want to accelerate any more, so the only thing they know to do is hit the brake, instead of just taking their foot off of the accelerator. So they’ve hit the brake and now they’re going too slow, so foot moves off the brake and back to the accelerator. Rinse, lather, repeat.

      End rant. Thank you for this opportunity to vent.

      • CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee
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        4 days ago

        These people might be two-footed drivers. My mother used to do this and you’d see the brakes flash on and off while following behind her because she’d be hovering her foot on the brake pedal while also hitting the accelerator.

      • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        Every couple weeks or so I seem to find myself behind someone that’s always either accelerating, or braking, with the brake lights repeatedly flashing on momentarily for no apparent reason.

        In many EVs and Hybrids the “letting off the accelerator” engages the regeneration drag which slows the car. A number of vehicle makers with particularly aggressive drag (which gets higher regen rates) automatically illuminate the brake lights. So if you’re behind one of these it will look like they are braking when they may have no foot on any pedal (brake or accelerator).

        • Bob Robertson IX @discuss.tchncs.de
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          4 days ago

          I just got a Chevy Volt and when I let up off the accelerator it will start the regen and significantly decrease my speed. I assume that my brake lights are coming on because so far no one has rear-ended me or yelled at me for not having brake lights. I wish there was a good way to tell for sure though. I think it’s Hyundai that does not engage the brake lights for situations like this, as I’ve about hit one before.

          • sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            4 days ago

            I don’t think they illuminate the brake lights, hence my comment. Technology connections has talked about this, although IDK which video it was.

      • SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        Brake light activates before the brakes engages, so they could just be resting their foot on the brake while coasting. Pretty normal defensive driving technique. People tend to do it in heavier traffic or when people are tailgating them. Gives a way faster brake response.

      • merde alors@sh.itjust.works
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        4 days ago

        Please allow me this opportunity to jump in and complain about the minority, but not insignificant number, of people that don’t seem to be aware that that is even an option (just taking your foot off of the gas/accelerator to slowly decelerate).

        😂 I feel your pain

      • sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        4 days ago

        Now that’s taking things too far.

        But the slow down thing can actually catch drivers by surprise, especially with electric vehicles.