[HighlandPete]

One of my pet hates, is drivers who keep touching the brakes, for no valid reason.

I've had two really bad ones on different days this week, on the same piece of road. Even on the straights, or slight bends where there is total vision ahead, still keep touching their brakes and checking their speed and immediately speed up again.

What is going on? They have to be on and off the throttle to keep touching the brakes and changing speed.

More drivers seem to drive this way these days, why?

[225]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

One of my pet hates, is drivers who keep touching the brakes, for no valid reason.

I've had two really bad ones on different days this week, on the same piece of road. Even on the straights, or slight bends where there is total vision ahead, still keep touching their brakes and checking their speed and immediately speed up again.

What is going on? They have to be on and off the throttle to keep touching the brakes and changing speed.

More drivers seem to drive this way these days, why?

Some people can't drive full stop.
Checking their speed?

I have to say on that note when on a motorway and I use eco pro the coasting is good but you do end up catching people up going down hills etc which nesitates having to use the brake which is a bit annoying.

[EvilDrPorkChop]

The worst ones are that break when something is coming the other way, I was following one the other week and they were on their breaks everytime something was on the otherside of the road. It was ridiculous!

[Kal101]

Just be careful its not the crash cash scum.

[GEP77]

Originally Posted by 225

Some people can't drive full stop.
Checking their speed?

I have to say on that note when on a motorway and I use eco pro the coasting is good but you do end up catching people up going down hills etc which nesitates having to use the brake which is a bit annoying.

Just tap down a couple of gears to get some engine braking. Once you've matched the speed again pull and hold the up selector until D shows in the dash again.

[SportySpice]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

One of my pet hates, is drivers who keep touching the brakes, for no valid reason.

I've had two really bad ones on different days this week, on the same piece of road. Even on the straights, or slight bends where there is total vision ahead, still keep touching their brakes and checking their speed and immediately speed up again.

What is going on? They have to be on and off the throttle to keep touching the brakes and changing speed.

More drivers seem to drive this way these days, why?

It may be different in the U.K., but in the States, I've noticed that people who drive this way are usually distracted / on their phones.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by EvilDrPorkChop

The worst ones are that break when something is coming the other way, I was following one the other week and they were on their breaks everytime something was on the otherside of the road. It was ridiculous!

I see that all the time.

Picture the scene, two HGVs passing each other, both driving about 50mph, the little hatchback brakes as an HGV approaches, having just witnessed the two pass each other quite easily.

Probably intimidated, nervous and hate being on the road.

When it's dark, it gets worse.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by 225

Some people can't drive full stop.
Checking their speed?

I go along with the first statement, for most cases.

I see the folks who check their speed occasionally, but many slow on the brakes for no reason and then speed up again immediately, do it over and over. Following folks like that for 8 miles or more without a chance to overtake, gets a bit wearing.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by SportySpice

It maybe different in the U.K., but in the States, I've noticed that people who drive this way are usually distracted / on their phones.

Drivers on the phone are usually wandering all over the highway as well.

[Mr Burt]

It's the fucktard principle!
Most people are fucktards and have flawed decision making, spatial and speed awareness.
Your welcome!

[Watsey]

"drive with the throttle, not with the brakes" is my personal motto, but seemingly a foreign concept to many. Following another car it never amazes me the ratio of their brake usage to mine - sometimes at least 20:1, yet we are pretty much doing the same speed.

Lots of reasons for this. Driving too close is probably #1; reduced engine braking from a small displacement engine or autos that coast; ACC which also activates the brake lights when slowing; lack of experience/ability; or severe fucktardiness.

IMO it sits in the same category of excessive use of fog lights i.e. in the rain or simply because it's dark.

[Stoo]

My dad calls these people 'comfort brakers'. I.e. just checking that they still work.

What annoys me are those chodes that can't maintain speed.

I'll be sat on cruise at '70' mph, move from the inside to the outside lane of the motorway to overtake someone in the middle lane for them to overtake me minutes later.

Repeat process having never touched the cruise controls or altered my speed.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I see that all the time.

Picture the scene, two HGVs passing each other, both driving about 50mph, the little hatchback brakes as an HGV approaches, having just witnessed the two pass each other quite easily.

Probably intimidated, nervous and hate being on the road.

When it's dark, it gets worse.

Yep I hate following drivers who brake when a car is coming towards them on the opposite site of the road. I also hate following drivers who lose momentum every time they start going up an incline. Actually I just hate being behind anyone at all

[fluke]

Fewer manual cars means less control options. With a manual you could downshift to slow down or hit the brakes, your choice. Now, slowing down is 100% brakes so you see more brake lights.

[PaulT_M5]

Could it be something to do with the automated systems on many cars, even "low end" ones?

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that when I have cruise control on my car which has "Cruise Control with Brake", when it over speeds by a couple of MPH, rather than just lifting off the accelerator as I would, it brakes and puts the brake lights on.

[....,,,,..,,..]

I think a huge amount of people are just unable to read the road, the traffic or the conditions and always need to be x feet from car in front.

Coupled with that they likely cannot manage the power output / how quick it comes on etc and just feel the need to dab,dab,dab...

It's like a bloody red light disco at times, you can sit back in traffic just watching this going on constantly.

They never learnt or cannot understand just what their right foot is for and how the accelerator can be used to both speed up and slow the vehicle.

[Soul_Glo]

I was so annoyed on the M3 earlier this week. A Jaguar XF R type was doing the brake dance. It was all clear up ahead but every few minutes tap.. tap tap.. no one was up close behind and no one was in front. As mentioned above I put it down to people being unable to handle the power.

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by 37psi

I was so annoyed on the M3 earlier this week. A Jaguar XF R type was doing the brake dance. It was all clear up ahead but every few minutes tap.. tap tap.. no one was up close behind and no one was in front. As mentioned above I put it down to people being unable to handle the power.

If I'm sat behind somebody doing this, I give them a hand full of full beam every time they brake for no reason now.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by 37psi

I was so annoyed on the M3 earlier this week. A Jaguar XF R type was doing the brake dance. It was all clear up ahead but every few minutes tap.. tap tap.. no one was up close behind and no one was in front. As mentioned above I put it down to people being unable to handle the power.

Yep ..Or can't read a number plate at 20 meters away

[SteveChester]

I followed a black 3 series into Chester today who kept brake checking as he went along - perfectly straight road no need to etc.

At the next set of light he indicated to turn right but actually went to do a u-turn (illegal at this junction) - at this point all his blue lights came on so I thought he was off to do a job, but then he turned them off and just drove off as normal.

Wanker.

[dopper99]

Yet another reason to buy a 3 litre engine. So you a can overtake all these twats mentioned above.
I try to to overtake these idiots at the first safe opportunity. They wind me right up, as mentioned.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

One of my pet hates, is drivers who keep touching the brakes, for no valid reason.

I've had two really bad ones on different days this week, on the same piece of road. Even on the straights, or slight bends where there is total vision ahead, still keep touching their brakes and checking their speed and immediately speed up again.

What is going on? They have to be on and off the throttle to keep touching the brakes and changing speed.

More drivers seem to drive this way these days, why?

The responses so far are spot on. I've got two more:

1) People brake check when they are tailgating. Since they've left no cushion they are always reacting situations in front of them.

2) They also brake check when someone is tailgating them to get said fucktard tailgater off their ass. Not a safe situation but it happens.