I like looking at photos submitted to Reddit’s JustRolledIntoTheShop for pictures of brake system neglect. You can see pads worn to the backing plates, rotors that look like they were brought up from the bottom of the ocean and calipers that are seized.

But, the one thing these pictures do not capture is the car on the road and the potential for a crash that could kill or injure. By just the volume of these posts online, chances are a car with compromised brakes was behind you today.

Most of these postings say the customer was complaining of noise, they did not notice or figured the noise would go away. Some even decline to have the brakes fixed.

The next time you are driving, take a look in your rearview mirror. Realize that you are trusting them with your life and vehicle.