Why do some people tap their brakes on an open hwy when you approach them from behind w/no car in front of thm

Question

This always has aggravated me when driving on an interstate. Nobody in front of them yet when they see you driving up behind them they tap their brakes. This makes no sense. If any of you out there are bold enough to admit that you do such a weird thing, please tell us all why do you do such a stupid thing. Thank You.

Answer 1

Bad Weather Driving.

When it's foggy, raining or snowing, keep your lights on, even in the daytime.

If you have fog lights use them.

Tap your brakes every so often (brake lights are brighter than tail lights).

Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop in a distance shorter than you can see (some days, that's pretty slow).

If you have anti-lock brakes and can stop on a dime, that's great, but don't count on the guy behind you being able to do the same.

Answer 2

Because you are way too cotton-picking close, that's why.

They are warning you that you are doing something stupid, especially if you drive with a cell phone in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

I see this happen every day.

Answer 3

Tapping the brakes is the sign of telling you that"I'm not going any faster than I am now, go around me."  Also, tapping brakes few times is another way to warn speedy motorists that there's cop ahead(I only do this when I see cops on hwy)

Answer 4

I agree, usually it's plain stupid, like hitting brakes at every single corner no matter what.

However.

I tap the brake pedal too sometimes to stop people tailgating me - as a preventive measure.

My car has one of the shortest braking track so the chances are that if I have to brake suddenly they'd 100% hit me. Tapping the brake pedal doesn't slow my car more than lifting off the gas for a milisecond. But it makes the point.

I'd rather move over a bit or slow down so they can overtake me whenever possible but sometimes it's just necessary to keep them at safe distance.

Answer 5

Depending on which lane they're in, yes I agree with you. For example, if you're in a high speed/passing lane and some s*****k taps the brakes for no reason, that is absolutely ignorant, stupid and dangerous. They may say that they afraid or want you to back off or whatever. That's a cop out. If some jerk is tailgating or whatever, don't lower yourself to his/her stupid level and possibly cause an accident. Get out of the way or ignore them (if you're already in the right or slow lane that is).

Answer 6

well when i do this its cuz they are getting too close to my backside. it means to whoever is behind me to get off my @$$. if its 2 lanes just pass me up dont ride my butt. and if u are tooling around on interstate with open space in front why not drive over the speed limit?

Answer 7

they feel that you are riding their *** and they dont want  you that close.

Answer 8

Quit driving like a maniac! If someone comes up on you too fast, I slow down and tap the brakes to tell you to back off. It's not stupid, it's making sure you don't drive at our back bumper. IF we had to slam on the brakes on the highway, we don't want YOU hitting us and making us go into another lane or gaurd rail. Quit being such an @ss on the road, and you'll never see it happen to YOU again.

Answer 9

I don't think you should make fun of those of us with restless leg syndrome.

Answer 10

Even without actually falling asleep, drivers can go for miles in what some experts call “highway hypnosis,” with their reflexes slowed and their judgment impaired. This is most common on open roads with little traffic.  If you were approaching me from the rear at high speed and I was paying attention, I would at least tap my brakes or turn on the flasher to get you attention.

If you are driving too close, it could be to make you back off some. It could also be to cut off their speed control and slow down so it will be easier for you to pass. If the are driving over the speed limit it could be that your are thought to be the law and they don't want to get a speeding ticket. Some people just may not like to have people behind them for what ever reason.  If you are on the interstate, you should be in the other lane rather than just behind a car because if you are not paying attention and they stop really fast for something you could hit them. A safe following distance is about 5 seconds. If you are aggravated by this small thing, be prepared for someone to lock their brakes in front of you if you get too close to fast. People kill each other over very minor driving infractions ... with guns.

Answer 11

Yeah, it can be to shut the cruise control of or maybe the think you might be a cop and they're making sure they're not speeding or they think you're riding their bumper and are warning you to back off or...and this is my fave...they're just very odd people who have an affinity for brake tapping.

But the more likely answer is that they're just jerks.

Answer 12

I do it when I see someone approaching at a high rate of speed or driving aggressively so they will see my lights, know I am there and hopefully not kill me and whoever is in my vehicle with their ignorant driving.  If someone is approaching at the posted speed and not driving erratically then I do NOT feel the need for self preservation and tap my breaks.

Answer 13

I do it when people are too close.  I tap my brakes to let them know to back off.  If they don't, I slow down.  Maybe you need to slow down some and back off people's bumpers...

Answer 14

People, myself included, do it to alert you, the driver speeding up on the rear, that we are there.  I know that sounds stupid, but it is a reaction to what we perceive as someone who is potentially going to do something stupid and reckless like tailgating.  I am sure you don't do that but some people do.  The thing to remember is there is a reason for almost everything people do, even if you don't agree with it.

Answer 15

Sooner or later, you are likely to tailgate some angry person who is going to stand up on the brake pedal.

The resulting accident, according to the letter of the law, will be your fault for failure to keep your vehicle under control.

Points against your license, and your insurance costs will go way up for years.

Answer 16

I do it to shut the cruise control off so when you try and pass me i can floor it! lol

Answer 17

They do it because 1 to make others see better, 2 is that some of them just like doing it.