4 ms·

I actually think it is lame when engine braking activates the brake light. There are two distinct behaviors: slowing down gently, with engine braking, and slowi

I actually think it is lame when engine braking activates the brake light. There are two distinct behaviors: slowing down gently, with engine braking, and slowing down intensely with physical brake application. When I am engine braking like going down a long hill I do not want to flag the drivers behind me that I am braking ... I just want to use the compression of the engine to regulate my speed. Anyone who lives in a mountainous area will tell you this. Seeing solid brake lights going down the hill is a red flag / skill issue. Some manufacturers have begun to add artificial brake lights during engine braking though and I find it disingenuous.

yial 1y ago
I’m trying to understand this comment - are you saying that there’s an advantage to drivers behind you not thinking you’re braking? As in - you don’t want them to think you’re coming to a complete stop when you’re regulating your speed? Or are you saying that you don’t want them to think you have a skill issue ? I live in a semi mountainous area, where people driving automatics ride their brakes most of the way down the mountains. (Relatively small mountains, elevations ranging from 1,900-2,700 with the surrounding area around 1,000-1,100 elevation. So not the same necessity of engine braking as somewhere out west where the elevation is 3-6k average with mountains up to 12-14k).
- whalesalad 1y ago
  engine braking is not braking - is what I am trying to imply holding your speed or decellerating mildly is not the same as braking. if i gear down into a higher rpm and hold my speed, or perhaps decel ever so slightly - its not worth alerting the driver behind you. most people over-react to brake lights and will see your brakes as "I should apply brakes too" when in this particularly case, they should not. I can't think of a single circumstance where compression braking should cause a brake light to illuminate. the rate of decelleration is so small compared to even a gentle tap of the brakes, that it will merely confuse drivers behind you.
  - yial 1y ago
    I think perhaps this may be different drivers. The scenario I dislike is that drivers seem to fly up behind me, and then brake even heavier, when I’m using engine braking and then tailgate for a period. (For example, I’m going 40 in a 35, and they flew up behind me going 60). If I tap my brake lights as they’re approaching, they slow more gradually and follow at an appropriate distance. This is anecdotal of course. I think the issue is that I’m using engine braking, while those around me are not.
- GJim 1y ago
  Ummmm When one is driving downhill with a car in gear, one is maintaining speed, not slowing down. Hence there is no need to show a brake light. Driving down a long hill using (friction) brakes to maintain your speed is a quick way to cause excessive wear on your brakes and, in extreme cases, lead to overheating and brake fade or failure. This is required knowledge for the UK driving test BTW.
  - yial 1y ago
    Sorry - I should clarify I downshift. I understand the difference. I drove manual most of my life. (Somewhat unusual in the USA ) However, I frequently see drivers fly down the mountain behind me, and then brake heavily. The drivers in front of me, have their brake lights on in front of me usually the entire time or nearly. However: high compression engines will slow you at a rate similar to light braking in many circumstances, unless your gearing and the slope of the hill is just right. On my motorcycle, if I’ve downshifted to an amount that it will stop acceleration due to the slope, it will begin to decelerate me. Even in my current car, the difference between 3rd and 4th is 4th allowing the car to continue to accelerate to ~20 mph over the speed limit, where 3rd will hold briefly but begin to decelerate the vehicle as the slope decreases. While I can shift between them to moderate the speed, it’s not always worthwhile. Again, I’m applying specific scenarios where the “mountain” road is maybe 1-1.5 miles maximum. The specific scenario I dislike is that if I’m using engine braking(say to maintain 35-43 mph in a 35 zone), and don’t tap my brake lights - people fly down doing 60, and the brake heavily, tailgate for a period, and then follow at a normal distance. If I tap my brakes to trigger the lights as they approach, they begin to slow further away and don’t do the hard slowdown. Anecdotal of course. The difference may be that where I am in the USA many people are not using engine braking.
subscribed 1y ago
Agree and currently it's a dealbreaker to me, however I'm certain it will become optional in the future iterations.
mygnu 1y ago
thanks for your comment, the device is self leveling, I live in a hilly Scotland, it keeps adjusting itself with the slopes and only reacts to sudden changes.
- whalesalad 1y ago
  that is good. the rate of decel is more important than a strict boolean.

yial 1y ago

I’m trying to understand this comment - are you saying that there’s an advantage to drivers behind you not thinking you’re braking? As in - you don’t want them to think you’re coming to a complete stop when you’re regulating your speed? Or are you saying that you don’t want them to think you have a skill issue ? I live in a semi mountainous area, where people driving automatics ride their brakes most of the way down the mountains. (Relatively small mountains, elevations ranging from 1,900-2,700 with the surrounding area around 1,000-1,100 elevation. So not the same necessity of engine braking as somewhere out west where the elevation is 3-6k average with mountains up to 12-14k).

whalesalad 1y ago
engine braking is not braking - is what I am trying to imply holding your speed or decellerating mildly is not the same as braking. if i gear down into a higher rpm and hold my speed, or perhaps decel ever so slightly - its not worth alerting the driver behind you. most people over-react to brake lights and will see your brakes as "I should apply brakes too" when in this particularly case, they should not. I can't think of a single circumstance where compression braking should cause a brake light to illuminate. the rate of decelleration is so small compared to even a gentle tap of the brakes, that it will merely confuse drivers behind you.
- yial 1y ago
  I think perhaps this may be different drivers. The scenario I dislike is that drivers seem to fly up behind me, and then brake even heavier, when I’m using engine braking and then tailgate for a period. (For example, I’m going 40 in a 35, and they flew up behind me going 60). If I tap my brake lights as they’re approaching, they slow more gradually and follow at an appropriate distance. This is anecdotal of course. I think the issue is that I’m using engine braking, while those around me are not.
GJim 1y ago
Ummmm When one is driving downhill with a car in gear, one is maintaining speed, not slowing down. Hence there is no need to show a brake light. Driving down a long hill using (friction) brakes to maintain your speed is a quick way to cause excessive wear on your brakes and, in extreme cases, lead to overheating and brake fade or failure. This is required knowledge for the UK driving test BTW.
- yial 1y ago
  Sorry - I should clarify I downshift. I understand the difference. I drove manual most of my life. (Somewhat unusual in the USA ) However, I frequently see drivers fly down the mountain behind me, and then brake heavily. The drivers in front of me, have their brake lights on in front of me usually the entire time or nearly. However: high compression engines will slow you at a rate similar to light braking in many circumstances, unless your gearing and the slope of the hill is just right. On my motorcycle, if I’ve downshifted to an amount that it will stop acceleration due to the slope, it will begin to decelerate me. Even in my current car, the difference between 3rd and 4th is 4th allowing the car to continue to accelerate to ~20 mph over the speed limit, where 3rd will hold briefly but begin to decelerate the vehicle as the slope decreases. While I can shift between them to moderate the speed, it’s not always worthwhile. Again, I’m applying specific scenarios where the “mountain” road is maybe 1-1.5 miles maximum. The specific scenario I dislike is that if I’m using engine braking(say to maintain 35-43 mph in a 35 zone), and don’t tap my brake lights - people fly down doing 60, and the brake heavily, tailgate for a period, and then follow at a normal distance. If I tap my brakes to trigger the lights as they approach, they begin to slow further away and don’t do the hard slowdown. Anecdotal of course. The difference may be that where I am in the USA many people are not using engine braking.

subscribed 1y ago

Agree and currently it's a dealbreaker to me, however I'm certain it will become optional in the future iterations.

mygnu 1y ago

thanks for your comment, the device is self leveling, I live in a hilly Scotland, it keeps adjusting itself with the slopes and only reacts to sudden changes.

whalesalad 1y ago
that is good. the rate of decel is more important than a strict boolean.