Is It Illegal To Slam On Brakes In Front Of Other Drivers in IL?

We've all been there... cruising down the highway, minding your own business, when suddenly, the car in front of you slams on the brakes for no apparent reason.

Panic ensues as you desperately try to avoid a rear-end collision. It's in these moments that you can't help but wonder, "Is brake checking legal in Illinois?"

Brake-Checking: Just Do It Don't

Let's delve into this confusing conundrum and hopefully shed some light on the matter.

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Brake checking is a form of aggressive driving that involves intentionally slamming on the brakes to force the following driver to abruptly stop or swerve to avoid a collision.

It's a dangerous maneuver that can lead to rear-end accidents, road rage, and a whole lot of unnecessary honking.

Brake checking doesn't just endanger your safety and the safety of others on the road, it can also lead to severe legal consequences.

If you're brake checking antics result in a collision involving serious injury or even death, you could be facing criminal charges, including reckless homicide.

So, unless you're auditioning for a role in a high-stakes Hollywood action movie, it's best to keep your foot off the brake pedal and drive responsibly.

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According to Kryder Law, the answer is a resounding no! Illinois law considers brake checking as reckless driving, which is a serious offense punishable by hefty fines and potential license suspension.

You might be wondering, "What if the driver behind me is tailgating and I just want to teach them a lesson?"

It's a valid concern, but it's important to remember that two wrongs don't make a right.

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Engaging in brake checking as a means of retaliation is not only illegal but also highly dangerous.

Instead, consider other alternatives, such as safely changing lanes to allow the tailgater to pass or simply letting them be on their merry way.

Trust me, karma has a funny way of catching up with aggressive drivers, and you don't want to be caught in the middle of that comedy act.

LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving

To find out more about how has the price of gas changed throughout the years, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the last 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in April 2020), we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976 to 2020 along with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.