Question

Difficulty: MediumLighting and Horn Usage

When stopped in a stationary queue of traffic at night, you should keep your foot pressed on the brake pedal rather than applying the parking brake to maximize your vehicle's visibility to following drivers.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False
The statement is false because Highway Code Rule 114 instructs drivers that in stationary queues of traffic at night, they should apply the parking brake and take their foot off the footbrake once vehicles behind have stopped, avoiding severe glare and dazzle.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the statutory safety rule regarding stationary vehicles and lighting at night.
Highway Code Rule 114 regulates the use of lights and brake pedals in stationary queues.
The rule balances rear-end awareness with the prevention of glare and dazzle to drivers queuing behind.
2
Evaluate the effect of holding the footbrake while stationary in nighttime traffic.
Holding down the footbrake keeps high-intensity brake lights illuminated, dazzling following drivers and impairing their night vision.
Brake lamps are significantly brighter than standard tail lights and cause unnecessary eye strain when illuminated continuously while stationary.
3
Determine the correct Highway Code procedure and assess the statement's validity.
The correct procedure is to apply the parking brake (handbrake) and release the footbrake once vehicles behind have safely stopped, making the statement false.
The statement incorrectly claims that drivers should continuously hold the footbrake instead of using the parking brake.

Key Concept

Highway Code Rule 114 specifies that drivers in stationary queues at night must apply the parking brake and release the footbrake to prevent dazzling drivers behind.
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