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I commuted by bicycle for many years in city traffic. Followed the vehicle laws and took the lane when side of road wasn't safe. Was reasonable because in the city I can mostly ride at the speed of traffic. Still was literally assaulted by a few drivers, elbow clipped by side mirror, unsafe pass then brake check. Some people in the big pickups are just angry.
Moved out of the city and suddenly arterial speeds are 45 and up, no shoulder, big angry pickups and suvs giving me no space. Terrifying so I quit riding on the road.
Few years later got my motorcycle cert, took the safety class. Class was a huge eye opener for me, the idea that you own your safety, you lose the ego and literally do anything to keep yourself safe. Sidewalk, run red lights, wrong side of road, split the lane, whatever it takes to not die. Always have outs, always be planning evasion. Boon of motorbike is the huge throttle so you can stay away from anyone you feel might grief you. I'd ride until I found a big open bubble on the freeway and squat there as long as possible with eyes always searching for the next car thats going to try and kill you. Also made it nearly impossible to ride a bicycle on the road because bikes don't have that throttle... imo the motorbike is far safer.
Idea of brake checking, or hazard lights... its some sort of vengeance, is not egoless.
Leave space so jackasses can snap no-signal merge in front of you. Put on your blinker when someone is approaching from behind to communicate your intent to submit. Ease up the throttle and submit. Thats the safe route, everything else you're being an ass.
Very, very rare that you actually need to emergency brake, but thats the time you'll be happy you maintained space around you.
One of my vehicles is heavy and slow. On freeway it lives in slow lane at 55. Folks zoom around, swerve, etc but generally I maintain space and I'm not hassled. I really don't like people merging close in front of me because my stopping distance is terrible but so it goes.
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