Ban Brake-Checking Rather Than Kick

[HeartOfOnyx]

Suggestion Name: Ban Brake-Checking Rather Than Kicking

Suggestion Description: 

Please could you increase the penalty for deliberately brake-checking from a kickable offense to a ban-able offense? Theoretically this is still classed as Blocking and Reckless Driving and is a precursor to said offenses. The amount of times that I've seen drivers in cars or buses brake-checking truckers to slow them down and stop them is ridiculous and when the driver attempts to go around, the driver simply begins blocking them.

Any example images: None

Why it should be added: Harsher consequences for drivers who deliberately brake-check, then simply reconnect after being kicked will deter some but not all from doing so in the future.

[Snorlax.]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but brake-checking, when proven or obvious, is already a ban-able offense. Moderators reviewing reports ingame can see how fast players are going and therefor identify a sudden drop in speed for no viable reason. Deliberate brake-checking can be classed as §2.2 - Collisions: Causing or attempting to cause a collision with another player intentionally or due to negligence.

Now, unfortunately, these cases are not always very obvious, hence why you might have had the experience in some cases that Moderators prefer a kick over a ban. Such cases depend on various factors, including the amount of players nearby, the traffic situation in general and the safety distance between trucks just to name a few. In web-reports especially, there isn't often enough evidence to support the deliberate brake-checking claim.

At the end of the day, just like in real life, the person rear-ending a car in front is often perceived as guilty until proven innocent. So, to avoid being brake-checked, try to increase your distance to the truck in front and drive passively. That isn't always easy, I know. Especially when people seem to deliberately brake check, but just don't do anything to escalate the situation further. This style of driving has helped me avoid finding myself in situations you are describing. 

 

[HeartOfOnyx]

When it comes to other trucks I deliberately avoid things like this by monitoring the distance, especially when I am on cruise control on a highway, they slow down, I slow down because you never know when you're gonna get a lag spike however it has become a common tactic for people in cars to deliberately sit in your blind spots to make their way to the front of the truck - the next thing you realise is that you rear ended the car and it's slowing you down and begins blocking you or using the in-game physics to try and tip the truck and trailer. Of course you see them coming in the rear-view mirror and anticipate something is going to happen or they're driving on ahead, pull in on the hard shoulder and wait for you to pass before coming up from behind, which is why I always have Medal running in the background to support an online report if it does.

 

What I am asking for is an outright ban over kicking. Normally if it's a simple mistake, it's usually another trucker, not a car and the other driver will usually apologise in chat but because it's becoming such a common occurrence and in most cases it's clearly pre-planned and deliberate then a zero tolerance may be beneficial in reducing number of incidents. Of course you'll always get the troll or the players who don't take the simulator as seriously as other drivers or play it as a truck racing simulator but because of the amount of trolls and reckless drivers on the game, it's making TMP less and less enjoyable.