As if you needed a reminder why not to tailgate

An accident captured on a dashboard camera and posted on YouTube shows the consequences of tailgating and what is commonly referred to as “break-checking.”

“Break-checking” is the act of tapping your breaks to jolt someone who inches closer to your rear bumper. In the video, you can see the ensuing fallout as the tailgating driver narrowly avoids crossing the median into oncoming traffic.

Accidents like this have become viral fodder for their shocking and extremely dangerous visuals, as well as the controversy swirling around who should bear responsibility. With dashcams more prevalent than ever, authorities are beginning to see firsthand the degree to which tailgating and break-checking are causing unnecessary danger to drivers everywhere. All drivers have a duty of reasonable care, a legal obligation that holds an individual to a certain standard when engaging in act that could foreseeably harm others. Driving is one of those duties.

As more videos like the one above come to light, it’ll be interesting to see how regulators respond, if at all.