Poor man's hold mode

[Blastphemy]

Lots of higher end cars have a "hold" mode by which the user presses harder on the brake once the car is stopped, and the car holds itself in place until the driver presses the brake again or the accelerator.

 

I really miss this feature on the Ford Fusion Energi (because apparently I'm too lazy to hold the brake pedal for 50 seconds waiting for the light to change), so I tested a theory for a workaround, and it worked!

 

Once your vehicle has come to a complete stop, simply pull up on the electric parking brake switch in the center console (see page 180 in the 2015 owner's manual). Once you see the brake system warning lamp illuminate, you can take your foot off of the brake.

 

When you're ready to go, gently press the accelerator and the electric parking brake will release, and then accelerate normally.

 

Enjoy!

[TX NRG]

Since your rear brake lights won't be illuminated, this could increase your chances of getting hit from behind by a distracted and/or impaired driver.

[Blastphemy]

And putting the car in Neutral or Park at a red light (as many people do) can also increase one's chances of getting hit from behind. But that increase is statistically meaningless, especially if the driver behind you is distracted or impaired – most likely s/he will hit you anyway, regardless of whether your brake lights are on. You don't think seeing a large 3,900 lb metal object in front of you that is itself stopped in front of a bright red light is enough of a warning to stop? Do those red lights really make all the difference to distracted/impaired drivers?

 

Did you know that driving a car increases your chances of injury or death by 60 times over taking a public bus? So you gonna stop driving? Of course not.

 

This straw man argument is the same one made against people downshifting their manual cars to slow down instead of braking, or using the regen in an EV to slow instead of the brakes. Sure there's a potentially fractional increase in danger, but it's not a consistent variable, and it definitely wouldn't absolve a distracted/impaired driver (or his/her insurance) from paying for all resulting damages.

Edited September 26, 2016 at 06:59 AM by Blastphemy

[TX NRG]

I was just noting a difference between auto brake hold and the suggestion so people would have more info. Cars rows back do remain stopped for many seconds after the light has turned green and brake lights help warn approaching drivers. Sorry, I didn't intend to piss in your Cheerios.

[My14Energi]

So trading the absolute minimal amount of actual human effort in pushing a brake pedal for excessively using an automatic parking brake with moving parts that could break over time. Seems like a perfectly valid arguement. I for one HATE having to actually turn a knob with my hand to raise the volume on the radio. Why do they have to make it so hard??

Edited September 29, 2016 at 01:36 AM by My14Energi

[My14Energi]

Sarcasm btw....

Edited September 29, 2016 at 01:35 AM by My14Energi

[Blastphemy]

So trading the absolute minimal amount of actual human effort in pushing a brake pedal for excessively using an automatic parking brake with moving parts that could break over time. Seems like a perfectly valid arguement. I for one HATE having to actually turn a knob with my hand to raise the volume on the radio. Why do they have to make it so hard??

Thank you for your useless contribution to this thread.

[16vjohn]

The e-brake servos were not designed for that type of use. Hopefully you don't regret it later.