Possible safety issue with Auto Hold?

Hi All,

I don't use the "Auto Hold" function much, so it took me a while to realise this...

I've noticed that whilst the Auto Hold function does a splendid job in keeping the brake pressure applied, it does not keep the brake lights on! So imagine you're the last car in a queue (for whatever reason), sitting there with foot off the brake pedal and auto hold keeping the car stopped... another car comes around the corner (or whatever), doesn't see brake lights, and plows into the back of you! Could be worse at night, or in bad visibility conditions.

I think that this scenario is scary enough for me to never use auto hold - except for the occasional tricky hill start!

regards,
John.

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Originally Posted by oz_train

I've noticed that whilst the Auto Hold function does a splendid job in keeping the brake pressure applied, it does not keep the brake lights on!

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Neither does using your handbrake, which is what people did before "Auto Hold" functions were introduced. So I don't really understand your comments or concern...

didn't realise this, thanks for the heads up

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Originally Posted by Corey_R

Neither does using your handbrake, which is what people did before "Auto Hold" functions were introduced. So I don't really understand your comments or concern...

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Excellent point

I know I use the handbrake all the time, I also tend to gear down and use engine braking so my brakes (and lights) get used far less often that "normal".

That said I am very aware of my surroundings and adjust accordingly. For example if I am the first car at the lights and there is a car behind me I am more than happy to use the handbrake. If I am the last car in a line of traffic where I know people will be coming up behind I tend to use the footbrake to ensure the lights are on. In heavy traffic or inclement conditions I tend to use the brakes more and engine braking less for the same reasons.

It's all about being aware of your surroundings, part of which is knowing how your car behaves, in this case the brake lights.

I'm with Aaron and Corey on this one. The auto hold was never weant to replace the use of brakes (with the obvious advantage of lights being on). The auto hold is only meant to be used for tricky hill starts and the like. It is not meant to be used as an alternative to braking and being aware of your surrounding.

Sometimes I wonder if additional safety and convenience features are being relied on by people too much instead of being viewed as simply additional tools.

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Originally Posted by tigger

I'm with Aaron and Corey on this one. The auto hold was never weant to replace the use of brakes (with the obvious advantage of lights being on). The auto hold is only meant to be used for tricky hill starts and the like. It is not meant to be used as an alternative to braking and being aware of your surrounding.

Sometimes I wonder if additional safety and convenience features are being relied on by people too much instead of being viewed as simply additional tools.

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I very much agree with this.

All valid and reasonable points, for the most part. The usual exception can always be made for Corey's blunt and condescending contribution.

use the auto hold function AND hold your foot on the brake?

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Originally Posted by blutopless2

use the auto hold function AND hold your foot on the brake?

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Yep, you can do this. The first car with auto hold I drove, I didn't even know I had it until I took my foot off the brake to roll forward, only to find it wouldn't move... even after 10+ seconds. Up until then, I just thought it had Hill-Start-Assist. This was in a Passat CC that I had for the day... didn't notice the "Auto Hold" button until afterwards... hehe
But in other words, you don't have to change your day to day driving habbits because of this addition safety/convenience feature.

... and yet people still drive into the back of car with the break lights on. You can't guard yourself from people who do all sorts of things in the car but drive.

If its daylight, I would hope the person could see the car in front of them. If despite this they run into you, not even a brake light being on will stop the incident as they are probably going too fast. I'm not sure if this is an issue of over reliance on new features. If you use 'Auto Lights' and 'Auto Hold' you have an added safety factor, because if the light is low, the lights will come on so that working together with the auto hold would be a benefit if you were around a bend and last in line as the earlier scenario suggested. If I was in that position I would be anxious whether my brake lights were on or not. The original point is still a good one though, in some cases this car is too clever by half with its lights :)