How to improve your black box braking score

If you have black box car insurance and your braking score is lower than you'd like, you might be wondering how to improve it.

Harsh braking can negatively affect your driving score, but developing better habits can help you avoid unnecessary sudden stops.

The key is to anticipate what's happening on the road, leave enough space between your car and the vehicle in front, and adjust your speed to suit the conditions.

Here's how Marshmallow Move measures harsh braking and what you can do to improve your score.

How is harsh braking measured on a black box?

A harsh braking event is recorded when you reduce your speed suddenly, such as slamming on the brakes in a lower-speed area or slowing dramatically on a motorway.

Black box insurance uses telematics technology to collect driving information. With Marshmallow Move, a small device called a Tag works with the Marshmallow app to record driving data and help calculate your driving score.

It tracks how often harsh braking events occur over time relative to the distance you travel, rather than judging your driving on a single event.

Your driving score is calculated over a rolling 91-day period and updated after each journey. This means that as you develop better braking habits, your newer journeys can help improve your score, while older journeys gradually fall outside the calculation period.

What is considered hard braking in a car?

Hard braking generally means slowing down suddenly rather than reducing your speed in a controlled way.

For example, imagine you're approaching a roundabout and the car ahead unexpectedly stops to give way. If you're following too closely or approaching too quickly, you might need to brake sharply to avoid a collision.

Common driving habits that can contribute to harsh braking include:

• Following the car ahead too closely
• Approaching hazards too quickly
• Failing to anticipate changes in traffic
• Driving while distracted

Of course, hard braking isn't always avoidable. If another vehicle suddenly pulls out in front of you, braking sharply may be the safest response.

How to improve your black box braking score

The most useful way to improve your black box braking score is to reduce how often you need to brake suddenly. That means recognising hazards earlier, giving yourself more time to react and slowing down progressively wherever it's safe to do so.

• Look further ahead: The sooner you spot a red light, junction, or slowing traffic, the earlier you can ease off the accelerator and brake gently.
• Leave enough following distance: Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front gives you more time to react if they suddenly slow down. The Highway Code recommends at least a two-second gap on high-speed roads, doubling this on wet roads and allowing an even greater gap in icy conditions. For more information, read our guide to braking distance.
• Adjust your speed to the conditions: The speed limit is a maximum, not a target. If the roads are wet, visibility is poor or there are hazards ahead, slow down to give yourself more time to respond.
• Brake progressively: Apply the brakes smoothly, gradually increasing pressure as needed to slow down. Read our guide to progressive braking for more information.
• Keep your attention on the road: Recognising hazards early is harder when you're distracted. Set up your navigation before driving, avoid handling your phone and keep other distractions to a minimum.

Will harsh braking affect your Marshmallow Move driving score?

Yes. Harsh braking is one of the factors that contributes to your driving score, alongside speeding, and phone use while driving.

Harsh braking is more common than you might think. Our Harsh Braking Report, which analysed more than 10 million car journeys, found that 51% of drivers had a braking rating of ‘Poor or worse’, and that dangerous braking was 7 times more likely than speeding.

While an occasional harsh braking event won't necessarily have a significant impact on your score, frequent sudden braking can indicate a pattern worth addressing.

Build better braking habits

Improving your black box braking score takes time and consistency. You won't always be able to avoid braking sharply, particularly when responding to unexpected hazards, but anticipating traffic, leaving enough space and slowing down progressively can help reduce unnecessary harsh braking.

With Marshmallow Move, you can use your driving score and feedback to understand your habits, track your progress and work towards smoother, safer driving.

Learn more about Marshmallow Move