If anyone still "consider" or doubt a dashcam

[Old Hat]

There are two threads of logic with regard to "allowing a collision". The first is "do what you need to do to avoid a collision", which is a good base case. The second is drawn from a Texas Dept of Transportation presentation on avoiding animals in the roadway: they explicitly advise drivers to either stop safely or hit the animal. I think the point is that wild evasive maneuvers have the potential to cause a larger and more damaging accident than what was avoided. Obviously that doesn't extend to the bad behavior that is often on full display, but there is a safety consideration limiting the extent of evasive action.

I will point out that "brake checking" CAN BE a valid technique, but as it is often practiced it is malicious and dangerous. If I see a following vehicle's headlights disappear from view on a fast moving roadway, I tap my brakes. The goal SHOULD be to alert an inattentive following driver that if the car in front of them had actually stopped quickly, they would not have time to react. That either causes them to back off or does no good. If that doesn't cause them to fall back, then I pull over and let them pass. Too often, we see drivers slam on their brakes in front of a car that may or may not be too close. I think of that as a different category of behavior, as it is risking a collision. If a "brake check" slows the vehicle down by more than 3 MPH, then its a risk without a gain other than petty malice or an attempt to cause an accident (neither of which is excusable).

Thanks for posting this, and I agree. Since my vehicle is not a battering ram I will never brake check anyone. I will on ocassion flash the four ways for one flash while maintaining my speed. If that doesn't encourage the 'gater to leave a bit more space I may then ease off the throttle. This is done to ensure that I have more time and space to react to any issues that may present themselves ahead of me. Also reduce the damage if they do collide into me. Usually they'll soon pass, but if not the lower speed has increased the margin of safety. As long as you ensure you don't have to brake hard, they are not going to hit you. Pulling off the road would be a last resort... I'm not going to make a habit of rewarding dangerous driving. Plus, what if they pull over too? No thanks.

As for me getting brake checked that is extremely rare due to the gaps I maintain. But if it does ever happen it will only be once. I won't be close enough to allow a driver a second chance.

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[amschind]

Thanks for posting this, and I agree. Since my vehicle is not a battering ram I will never brake check anyone. I will on ocassion flash the four ways for one flash while maintaining my speed. If that doesn't encourage the 'gater to leave a bit more space I may then ease off the throttle. This is done to ensure that I have more time and space to react to any issues that may present themselves ahead of me. Also reduce the damage if they do collide into me. Usually they'll soon pass, but if not the lower speed has increased the margin of safety. As long as you ensure you don't have to brake hard, they are not going to hit you. Pulling off the road would be a last resort... I'm not going to make a habit of rewarding dangerous driving. Plus, what if they pull over too? No thanks.

As for me getting brake checked that is extremely rare due to the gaps I maintain. But if it does ever happen it will only be once. I won't be close enough to allow a driver a second chance.

I have considered just running the flashers too, with the concern being that you don't get the point across. In Houston, I have given up on signaling other drivers as they don't notice or care. On I20, which is almost as bad, I try but so often the other drivers are simply oblivious. It gets harder and harder to assume that other drivers are competent folks who just want to safely get where they're going, but the alternative is that you have to treat everyone else like a cow standing in the roadway. Even truck drivers, who I used to assume are generally competent, frequently do ludicrous things on the road.