Abstract: A sliding roof with at least one slidable and optionally also raisable rigid cover element for selectively closing or at least partially exposing a roof opening of a motor vehicle in which the cover element is guided along at least one roof-mounted guide for a sliding motion between an open position and a closed position and is equipped with a brake mechanism which takes effect only in case of a crash, the brake mechanism remaining inactive during normal movements of the cover element between the open and closed position, and braking the cover element over a path which has a length which is dependent on the acceleration forces which occur during a crash.