The infamous brake check:

[Timbresmith1]

Is tapping the brake pedal to engage the lights considered a brake-check?
I’ll do that if somebody is tailgating me. Not gonna slam on the brakes with somebody right behind me tho.
I might also let the tailgator pass, and then turn my high beams on them. Just so they become aware that their road behavior is inconsiderate.

 

[Ron R]

Is tapping the brake pedal to engage the lights considered a brake-check?

As far as I've ever known, that's the very definition of a brake-check.

 

[Musekatcher]

This driver did the brake check to teach the driver following him a lesson.

View attachment 1099741

You should see the other guy ( and his insurance premium increase..).

 

[Toto'sDad]

Back in the early to mid 60s, I worked for a guy who owned an electrical, refrigeration, and kitchen appliance store all rolled into one. He took me to Burbank to a training school we both attended in his almost new Chrysler, I think it was called an imperial.

On the way down to Burbank he was telling me war stories of when he'd been a B-29 pilot in WWII. I'm pretty sure he thought he was still flying that thing, because I have never ridden that fast for that far in an automobile again. That big old behemoth could cruise right along at about a 115 mph. I don't see how he could have driven like that and not been arrested. One thing's for sure, he wasn't bothered with tailgating OR brake checkers.

 

[goonie]

With all due respect, you're on the wrong path. Better to do what it takes to "dispose" of the following driver. By taking a different route, by just pulling over.

This most often happens on the freeway so those aren't options. I exaggerated the 'twice the distance' bit. Just leave a bit extra, not enough to antagonise the idiot (he's too far up my azz to notice haha) but it's useful insurance if there's an abrupt stop situation. Haven't been involved in a rear ender -- perpetrator or victim -- in 50 years of driving so it's working out OK

 

[Lonn]

I drive a lot for my job and I do it probably once every day. I simply cannot stand people tailgating me at 70-80 mph. I'm one of the most chill, easy going people you're ever going to meet anywhere, just DON'T tailgate me!

 

[imwjl]

I'm certain there's drift with the meaning of brake check. With roots in operating old machines and driving trucks it was checking the brakes and traction. Now most I come across seem to think it's a rapid slam the brakes when someone is behind.

It is not so hard to avoid a lot of trouble when you drive but the dangerous and parochial behavior is bad. When I drove a semi all over the country some areas really stood out for parochial behavior. Now it seems like that has spread.

My past year 2-3 years of driving is up and about doubled for the past year. I'm always getting complaints about the young from my cohort but wow do I see a lot of bad driving and especially anger from my fellow boomers. A lot of us are looking like a pathetic bunch and now we have declining mortality rate as possible support for that.

 

[Musekatcher]

I drive a lot for my job and I do it probably once every day. I simply cannot stand people tailgating me at 70-80 mph. I'm one of the most chill, easy going people you're ever going to meet anywhere, just DON'T tailgate me!

That's because its irrational behavior, and your warning flags are going off that someone is out of control and endangering lives. I just had a person tailgate me last night coming back from the gym, 8pm, on a long four lane stretch, no cars around....he/she got triggered when he was following me as we turned left onto the highway. Evidently, I didn't take the turn on two wheels, and therefore was too slow for his needs. He however multiplied that time delay by following me very closely for about a mile. I was thinking, "how did this TDPRI member tailgater type identify me as a TDPRI brake checker?', lol. I ignored him as I was listening to music, next time I looked, he was gone.

 

[flathd]

PSA:
It's okay to tailgate at the drive-thru or stop light. There's no need for 2 car lengths behind the car in front of you. The person in the car behind your car would like to make room for traffic or place their order while you're waiting for your order.

 

[1955]

I don’t get brake checked, but I don’t follow close. Tailgaters get brake checked because the brake checkers haven’t figured out the subtle art of slight deceleration after slight acceleration. Rinse and repeat until tailgaters back off.