Brake checking is a term for drivers that purposely brake sharply in front of another driver to try and cause them to crash. Front seat passengers typically hold on tight to the seatbelt, whereas rear-seat passengers do not. Due to this, a sudden stop from behind causes the rear-seat passenger who is not buckled to crash into the front passenger or driver’s area with great force. There are legal implications and debates as to what constitutes brake checking.
Intelligent Transportation Systems Definition
In ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) literature, brake checking someone is a specific technique a driver can use to trigger an event. It is a response by one driver to the actions of another driver. A driver’s action may include running a red light, speeding, or even turning without signaling. The braking event triggers the ITS device to record the incident for review by officials at a later time. This applies only to dedicated ITS devices and not vehicles’ standard accident recording systems.
Brake checking is also used by vehicles’ enhanced sensors such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeps assist, and traffic sign recognition. In these cases, the system will automatically slow down as it approaches a vehicle stopped by a driver who may be trying to trigger an accident. There are many situations where this type of behavior occurs on public roads in countries worldwide. Much interest has been generated in brake checking someone and its definition. The term is used to describe a wide variety of situations on public roads in countries worldwide.
Causes and Consequences of Brake Checking
In any situation where traffic flow is interrupted or changed, confusion often results. Confusion can lead to frustration which can sometimes lead to aggressive behavior. This can sometimes be exacerbated by road conditions, traffic congestion, weather, and lighting. Brake checking is seen as an unintentional response to poor driving.
What Causes Brake Checking?
This behavior is often attributed to the driver’s frustration in trying to merge onto a busy highway. Other situations may involve a car that has pulled out in front of the driver or a vehicle that changed lanes without signaling or signifying that it is about to do so.
Although, in some instances, the driver is trying to cause another car to crash, brake checking results from not being able to see an approaching vehicle. This can happen due to poor, dim, or no lighting conditions, road conditions, or other factors. The driver may have to take immediate evasive action.
Another cause comes from tailgating or driving too close to the vehicle ahead. When the driver behind brakes sharply, their car may overshoot and collide with another car.
Dangers of Brake Checking
Brake checking is considered a serious offense in many jurisdictions, and several countries have enacted laws specifically to deal with it. Attempts have been made to quantify the risks, but no consensus has been reached. Many studies indicate that brake checking is responsible for a significant amount of rear-end incidents. In other cases, the numbers contradict each other.
It is generally accepted that the driver is trying to cause another driver to crash, resulting in injuries or even death. For this reason, brake checking is seen as a form of aggressive driving and a type of road rage. The behavior can be offensive and even dangerous. By causing someone else to stop quickly, you increase the likelihood of an accident. This could cause serious injuries or even death.
The lorry could easily crush a small car and its occupants. It can also be dangerous when the driver brake checks a large truck or any other heavy vehicle. The truck occupants may also be injured, especially if they have their windows down at the time.
In addition, brake checking can also cause rear end accidents by causing vehicles to stop suddenly in front of you, even if you do not brake yourself. This is especially true where heavy vehicles are involved. Heavy vehicles take more time to brake, meaning that drivers may not have time to react.
