Stopping Distances

What is stopping distance?

The distance a car travels from the moment the driver sees an obstacles to the point where it stops

What are the two components of stopping distance?

Thinking distance + braking distance

What is thinking distance?

The distance travelled in the time it takes the driver to react and put foot on the brake

What is braking distance?

The distance the car travels before it stops after the brakes are applied

Does driver’s reaction time affect their thinking distance, braking distance, or both?

Thinking distance

Name 3 factors that will affect a driver’s reaction time

• Tiredness

• Mobile phone distraction

• Alcohol

Which factor affects both thinking distance and braking distance?

Speed of vehicle

Name 3 factors that will affect a vehicle’s braking distance

• Quality of the brakes

• Quality of the tyres

• The road surface (icy/wet)

If a vehicle drives twice as fast, what happens to the braking distance?

It will increase by 4 times