A reverse torque, forward commutation motor driver system for a phased motor rapidly decelerates or "brakes" the motor by exciting, in sequence, a complementary excitation signal in each normal commutation state of the forward state machine, thereby providing an active braking effect. After active braking reduces the rotational velocity of the motor below a threshold, a dynamic braking technique can replace the active braking, wherein high-side drivers are set to an opposite voltage as compared to low-side drivers.