Astra with rapid flashing brake lights, fault or new tech?

[timko]

[timko]

[timko]

Soldato
Joined
20 Aug 2004
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Today, I was approaching a red traffic light and the car in front of me in the queue was a Vauxhall Astra, the recent style not the old one. What caught my eye was the fact that all of his/her brake lights were flashing really fast as it was sitting there idling. It must have been flashing at least 2-3 times faster than an indicator light would flash. Fast enough probably to give somebody a seizure if they're prone to those kinds of things.

Anyway, as it pulls away the brake lights turn off and then the Astra ends up going the same way I do for a bit before pulling off to a side road. Before it did, I decided to drop back a bit so I could see if it comes to a stop and wait for the light show to come on. As I pass the side road I look in and the driver has pulled over to pick someone up but this time he/she is just sitting on the brake so the lights are solid this time.

This is the first time I've seen brake lights flash this fast. Does the Astra have a fault when the handbrake is on that causes the flashing? Was the driver simply tapping his brakes mega fast? Or is this some new warning system for approaching drivers so that they know a stationary vehicle is in front of them?
 
When I replaced my sidelights with LED bulbs I found that they flashed very quickly instead of a steady illumination. It's possible the owner might have replaced his bulbs with LED's. Doubtful though, I'm sure there is a better reason!
(I removed mine straight away, btw)
 
[timko];13323128 said:
This is the first time I've seen brake lights flash this fast. Does the Astra have a fault when the handbrake is on that causes the flashing? Was the driver simply tapping his brakes mega fast? Or is this some new warning system for approaching drivers so that they know a stationary vehicle is in front of them?
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Handbrake doesnt put any lights on. Prob just an elec problem somewhere.
 
emailiscrap when the driver pulled over later on to pick someone up the lights were solid, not flashing this time.

howardcanning the Astra was already stationary and had been since I was approaching it from some 30metres back. The brake lights were flashing the whole time whilst sitting there.
 
This is why it might be LED's. The voltage might not be enough when at half power causing them to flash. As I say, unlikely though.
 
AmDaMan said:
It's some feature on the newer astras. My mates VXR did it when he was braking hard.
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I guess the means the driver I saw simply had the foot on the break proper hard at the traffic lights (causing them to flash) and then less hard later on when I saw them stop to pick someone up (solid lights) :)
 
[timko];13323296 said:
I guess the means the driver I saw simply had the foot on the break proper hard at the traffic lights (causing them to flash) and then less hard later on when I saw them stop to pick someone up (solid lights) :)
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I was about to post this
 
I don't think it matters if they have it on hard while stationary but I do know that if they were braking hard when moving it will still flash for a while when stationary (about 5 seconds)
 
The only time I have seen something like you described, is on the Bugatti Veyron. The brake lights flicker iirc.... maybe it's a new mod like these audi fairy light wannabe's?
 
my mum and dad were driving behind me in my astra one time on a small trip, when we pulled up they said that it was a nice trick i was doing with my lights - flashing the barke lights very fast, it only happened at one set of lights though. seen it happen on at least 2 other newish astras. no idea how to get it to happen.
 
When the dude was sitting at the lights did he have the indicators on as well? Sometimes if there is a dodgy earth or something the brake lights flash when the indicators are on, I've seen it loads of times about town.
 
The new Fiat 500s also flash their brake lights when braking hard. I think it is a good safety measure and more manufacturers will implement it.
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these are actually illegal and shouldn't have made it past type approval - VOSA currently have a court case outstanding - it's probable the system will have to be deactivated if VOSA win the court case (more than likely).

As already posted by someone else, emergency services are only allowed regular interval flashing lights (front or rear).

Let me find the link.
 
The Vectra and Astra from 2007 both have the function that causes the brake lights to flash at 4 times per second when the ABS is engaged.
AFAIK, all Lexus models have this feature too from 2008 onwards.
 
My Citroen might be French, but at least it has the sense to flash the hazards under these circumstances rather than the brakes. Out on the road, rapidly flashing brake lights = "WTF?!". Flashing hazards = well, a hazard :p :D
 
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