Braking indication

[TechnoSwiss]

Give the number of EV's that have been reported for FAILING to trigger the brake lights during regen when they should (see https://www.carscoops.com/2023/06/h...rn-other-drivers-during-regenerative-braking/ for examples) I don't think it's an unreasonable request to have the ability to double check that. I also see the lack of desire to have another indicator on the dash (although honestly the Lightning dash has to be one of the most sparse of any car I've driven in the last 10 years, it's an EV I want to to look like the inside of a space ship ). It's also a truck though so it wouldn't be that hard to mount a mirror or something in the bed temporarily so you can see the center brake light and verify for yourself when the light comes on.

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[GDN]

You can make any EV slow to a stop or decelerate without the brake lights coming, if you do it very gradually and slowly. Hence the story of the police following the guy and getting no brake lights. Dude was driving very easy. Gradually slowing, etc. If you are driving normal and use regen to do some slowing, the brake lights will come on. I bet we would all be amazed at the time Ford, GM, Tesla everyone studied this and programmed the where and how they come on. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a graphic on the dash too, it's stupid simple to add, but we don't have it. Bottom line. They work.

 

[Zprime29]

The ask isn't for a dedicated spot. Just modify the driver assist icon. It's not like Ford would be breaking ground here since Honda, Subaru, and others already do this.

Some of you should recall the story that's been told a couple times here about getting pulled over for no brake light. In actuality they where just slowing down in stop and go traffic but not enough to trigger the brake light. Cop figured the light was not functional. Now imagine if the driver didn't know better and accused the cop of harassment. If only there was a way for them to see what was going on...

Seriously, the overreaction is surprising here for the general level of intelligence present. Anyone have kids that watch If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? Your dash will be ruined...FOREVER....

Edit: GDN beat me to the reference about the police.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I think it would be a more useful ask to get the US regulations or at least Ford caught up to modern international standards and require stop lamps to light up whenever the vehicle slows at our fastest than some rate, perhaps matching the EU standards. Instead, we have a patchwork of manufacturers not bothering with programming stop lamps to illuminate under deceleration because regen is considered a supplemental braking system rather than service brakes. And by US standards, stop lamps don't have to illuminate unless the service brakes are applied with the intent of slowing the vehicle.

 

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

Regen level is the same, 1 pedal or not.

Not true. Regan is stronger in 1PD.

 

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

I've had my Lightning for a couple of weeks, coming from a Tesla Model S. In the Tesla, like the Lightning, there's an animation of the vehicle on the dash screen as you're driving. But in the Tesla, on the animation, the brake lights would light up a certain threshold when regen braking kicked in, indicating that the actual brake lights were being lit. I liked this feature as it would give me confidence that I wouldn't get rear-ended during a significant regen triggered slow-down. Unless I'm missing something, there's no indication in the Lightning that the brake lights are on during significant regen braking. Am I missing something?

Drive in a dark area at night with the bed camera turned on. You’ll see when the brake light comes on.

 

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

I think it would be a more useful ask to get the US regulations or at least Ford caught up to modern international standards and require stop lamps to light up whenever the vehicle slows at our fastest than some rate, perhaps matching the EU standards.

I don’t know what the EU standards are but Ford uses an accelerometer to measure if deceleration is sufficient to merit activating the brake lights.

 

[Sealevel]

Give the number of EV's that have been reported for FAILING to trigger the brake lights during regen when they should (see https://www.carscoops.com/2023/06/h...rn-other-drivers-during-regenerative-braking/ for examples) I don't think it's an unreasonable request to have the ability to double check that. I also see the lack of desire to have another indicator on the dash (although honestly the Lightning dash has to be one of the most sparse of any car I've driven in the last 10 years, it's an EV I want to to look like the inside of a space ship ). It's also a truck though so it wouldn't be that hard to mount a mirror or something in the bed temporarily so you can see the center brake light and verify for yourself when the light comes on.

I sometimes turn on my bed camera in traffic to increase my ability to see someone directly behind me. I've never noticed if I can see the brake lights light up. This isn't on the IC behind the wheel, it is a small inset on the right of the NAV display. The inset can be toggled to show the audio, Android Auto, Bed Camera etc.

 

[Zprime29]

The concern about additional lights/icons is noted and I addressed it already. No new icons are required. The truck is already there in drive assist. It's no different than it moving to the side in blue cruise to let you know there's a large vehicle next to you or adding an icon of a vehicle to let you know someone is in front of you. Yet, animating the brake light is where they cross the line? It would easily be avoided since it wouldn't be on every screen.

The Subaru I had only displayed the rear light while using adaptive cruise. I thought it was a nice touch and did not find it distracting at all. Once I got used to the vehicle's behavior I didn't even register that it was showing me. It was a good educational aid for giving me confidence with an unfamiliar driving system.

I find it very unlikely Ford will add something like this, given their track record for updates thus far. I think it would be neat but doesn't bother me one way or the other. I only felt the need to pop in from the relentless sarcasm that (to me at least) seemed more like attacks on intelligence.

 

[flabrent]

I only felt the need to pop in from the relentless sarcasm that (to me at least) seemed more like attacks on intelligence.

LOL! It reminds me of Mounds vs. Almond Joy commercials from back in the day.

 

[Zprime29]

LOL! It reminds me of Mounds vs. Almond Joy commercials from back in the day.

That brings back some memories, I'd forgotten about those!

 

[Ted23Lightning]

The Subaru I had only displayed the rear light while using adaptive cruise. I thought it was a nice touch and did not find it distracting at all. Once I got used to the vehicle's behavior I didn't even register that it was showing me. It was a good educational aid for giving me confidence with an unfamiliar driving system.

Exactly! When training someone new to drive I find it great for them to be able to see when their brake lights come on.
Also, it’s not anymore distracting than say a blinker operating.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Yes, but I want a HUD with a strobing "BRAKE LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS" in red please.

Not quite as elegant as a HUD, but get one of these, and stick it ontop of your dash, problem solved.
https://a.co/d/73v7mXK

 

[Rayden]

This was something that occurred to me while I was driving my truck home when we purchased it. My wife was following me and I suddenly got worried that she might hit me if I was using regen and that didn't trigger the brake lights. So, I called her and had her indicate to me when she saw my lights come on. Helped me to get an idea how they worked. I wasn't sure whether it wasn't triggering them at all or it was triggering them EVERY time I eased off the accelerator at ALL. Part of that concern is sort of built in from being a motorcycle rider. I need to tap my brake lights when downshifting to let people behind me know I'm slowing down.

 

[TaxmanHog]

This was something that occurred to me while I was driving my truck home when we purchased it. My wife was following me and I suddenly got worried that she might hit me if I was using regen and that didn't trigger the brake lights. So, I called her and had her indicate to me when she saw my lights come on. Helped me to get an idea how they worked. I wasn't sure whether it wasn't triggering them at all or it was triggering them EVERY time I eased off the accelerator at ALL. Part of that concern is sort of built in from being a motorcycle rider. I need to tap my brake lights when downshifting to let people behind me know I'm slowing down.

I wonder what our EV motorcycle riders think of this point of view, I know we have a couple on the forum.

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