Why Do People Brake Check And What Does It Mean? - Vehicle Freak

• Emma Davies

Updated on September 14, 2022

Have you ever been driving behind someone and they suddenly slam on their brakes? When drivers travel too closely together along the road, accidents can easily occur if the car in front quickly slows down or stops altogether.

Brake checking is a dangerous driving practice that is currently illegal in the USA. Brake checking happens when someone is driving in front of another car and suddenly slams on the brakes.

Drivers usually brake check to force tailgating cars to back off and give them more space. However, sometimes brake checking is done deliberately as an insurance scam.

Whatever the reason, brake checking is extremely dangerous, especially when done to truck drivers as heavier vehicles need more time to slow down.

What Is Brake Checking?

Brake checking is the practice of suddenly slowing down or slamming on the brakes when another car is driving too close behind you. There are various levels of brake checking, some of which can have much more serious consequences than others.

Sometimes drivers will just lightly tap the brake pedal to flash their brake lights, signaling to the car behind that they are too close.

However, more serious brake checking is when the drivers apply enough pressure to the brakes to abruptly slow down, closing the gap between themselves and the car behind even more.

Brake checking is most dangerous in fast-moving traffic when the stopping distance needs to be greater, or when being followed by a large vehicle that will require more time to safely slow down.

Drivers should always try their best to leave a safe stopping distance between themselves and the vehicle in front. For example, when driving at 70mph, a safe stopping distance would be approximately 245feet and when you slow down to 40mph the stopping distance is only 80feet.

Often, drivers will brake check because a car is following too close behind them and not leaving a large enough stopping distance.

When out on the road drivers need to be constantly reacting to everything that is going on around them and sometimes there is no choice but to slam the brakes on to avoid emergencies. This is why cars should always have plenty of space in front and behind them.

Brake checking is often a response to tailgating, it is not a safe way to deal with the problem but often drivers feel under pressure and that they have no other choice.

Tailgating is the term used for cars that purposefully drive dangerously close to the car in front, either to try and force them to speed up or to just be a nuisance.

This YouTube video shows footage of exactly how reckless and dangerous brake checking can be.

Why Do People Brake Check?

Now you know what brake checking is, you may be wondering why any driver would do something so dangerous. Here is a list of the main reasons why drivers brake check:

Tailgaters

Tailgating is illegal in most states as it decreases the safe distance between cars. When a car is driving too close, the driver in front can feel under pressure and may tap the brake to give the tailgater a signal to slow down and give them more space.

Road Rage

Sometimes tailgaters won’t get the message from just a quick tap of the brakes. When their request for more space is not honored, a driver may become angry and frustrated and choose to slam on the brakes. Just as tailgating is illegal, so is brake checking.

The driver may only have hit the brakes as a response to the dangerous tailgater but their decision can result in a serious accident. Later in this article, we will discuss how road users can calmly and safely respond to tailgating drivers without resorting to brake checking.

Insurance Scams

There are drivers that use brake checking to their advantage to get a large payout from insurance companies. This scam is usually attempted by people driving old cars that they want to replace or cars that are already damaged and the owners can’t afford to pay for the repairs.

Drivers will purposefully pull out in front of another car and quickly slow down, causing the car behind to crash into them. Brake checkers try to get a payout from the insurance company by claiming the car behind was tailgating them and the crash was not their fault.

If there are no witnesses or dash-cam evidence, this insurance scam can be successful. However, brake checking can be dangerous and this scam can seriously backfire if someone gets seriously hurt, or there are fatal consequences.

How Do You Deal With a Tailgater?

Brake checking is not the best way to deal with tailgaters. At the moment, it may feel like the easiest option to apply the brakes to warn a tailgater off but reckless braking can damage your car or even result in someone getting seriously hurt.

So, what should you do if someone is tailgating you? If someone is following too close behind you, instead of hitting the brakes, take these actions instead:

Stay calm

It can be hard to remain calm and avoid road rage in these situations. However, if someone is tailgating you then you need to keep your wits about you and have a clear head.

When we are angry we are more likely to make rash decisions and may slam the brakes on in a burst of rage. Try to keep calm, take some deep breaths and ignore that temptation to hit the brakes.

Let them pass

It may be tempting to teach tailgaters a lesson by slowing down even more or brake checking them, but ultimately this will just make them even closer to you (especially if they have no intention of listening to your warnings).

Instead of resorting to these dangerous options, as soon as it is safe to do so you should allow the tailgater to pass. Don’t put yourself into any danger by suddenly switching lanes, instead stay calm and when it is possible to do so, move to a different lane or pull in to allow the impatient driver to pass you.

You don’t want a tailgater anywhere near you, don’t think of pulling over as them ‘winning’, instead see your actions as a way of keeping yourself, your passengers, and your car safe from a collision.

Don’t speed up

Speeding up is not the best course of action here either, especially not if there is a car in front of you or you are going to be forced to break the speed limit. If you try to ‘outrun’ a tailgater, you may just end up tailgating the person in front of you.

The car behind you will likely speed up and continue to follow too close behind you and then you will find yourself ‘boxed in’. When you have little space in front or behind you, the risk of crash increases, and you can find yourself right in the middle of an accident.

Maintain a safe and steady speed, you can’t control the behavior of the driver behind you but you can stay as safe as possible by watching your own speed.

Ease off the gas slowly

Slowing down may seem counterproductive but if you do get rear-ended, the accident will be less serious if everyone was traveling at a slower speed.

Gradually ease off the gas when you need to slow down and then if you do need to apply the brakes, the car behind you will be traveling slower and should be able to stop in time.

Of course, this may not always work, if the tailgater is very close then they may not be able to respond quickly enough to your reduction in speed. However, slowing down gradually is a much safer approach than slamming the brakes.

Use vehicle cameras

Using a dashcam or rear-facing camera may not be enough to deter tailgaters, but the footage can be useful if an accident occurs and an insurance claim is made.

Having video evidence of someone tailgating you can help you to prove a collision was not your fault and was caused by someone driving too close. In some cases, seeing a camera being used in a vehicle may be enough to encourage a tailgater to back off and give you more space.

FAQs

What is the point in brake checking?

Drivers often brake check when there is a car driving too close behind them. Brake checking is a dangerous driving practice that drivers use to force tailgaters to give them more space.

When someone is almost riding your bumper, brake checking can be tempting. However, brake checking is dangerous and can lead to a road traffic accident.

Is brake checking legal in the US?

Brake checking is illegal in the US. Even if someone is tailgating you, brake checking is not legal and should be avoided. Both brake checking and tailgating are dangerous driving practices and can get you into trouble with the law.

As well as being illegal, brake checking can cause a serious accident.

Should you slow down when being tailgated?

Slowing down when you are being tailgated can feel very tempting. It is natural to want to warn of the car behind you by hitting the brakes but slowing down may cause a tailgater to rear-end your vehicle.

If you need to slow down, do so gradually. Ease off the gas pedal and the car behind should match your speed and slow down too. However, if you hit the brakes suddenly the tailgating driver will not have enough time to slow down before running into the back of you.

If someone brake checks you, who is at fault?

Both brake checking and tailgating are illegal driving practices and can result in costly damage and large insurance claims. However, it can be difficult to prove who is at fault in these types of accidents, especially if there are no witnesses or dash-cam evidence.

Drivers may feel like they are not to blame if someone brake checks them, but if they were driving dangerously by tailgating, it can be difficult to determine exactly who is at fault.

To avoid getting into trouble on the road, always leave a safe stopping distance between your car and all other vehicles on the road.

Why do people tailgate?

Drivers tailgate for different reasons. Sometimes drivers tailgate unintentionally, they may not be paying enough attention to the road and pull up too close to the car in front without realizing.

Tailgating can be the result of someone rushing because they are late or because they are trying to force the car in front of them to speed up. Whatever the reason, tailgating is not safe and is a dangerous driving offense.

Conclusion

Brake checking is just as dangerous as tailgating. Keeping a safe stopping distance is extremely important when you are out driving on the road, be that on the highway or in built-up areas with a slower speed limit.

Drivers need enough time and space to react to sudden changes in the traffic and any emergency situations that may arise, like a pedestrian running into the road or a car suddenly stalling in front of them.

Why do people brake check? To be honest there could be a whole host of reasons from drivers trying to force tailgaters to back off, to an insurance scam, or to purposefully cause an accident and get a payout from the insurance company.

To stay safe on the road, all drivers should try their best to avoid brake checking and tailgating. Always leave a safe stopping distance and slow down gradually when you need to. Remember, it is important to treat other road users with respect so everyone stays safe on their journey from A to B.

You may also check out these other VehicleFreak articles:

What Is Brake Boosting?

What Is a Jake Brake, Why Is It Illegal, and Why Are There Signs?

What Causes A Car To Jerk When Stopping With Brakes? A Comprehensive Guide