Stopping Distances

Thinking time plus braking

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Stopping distance = thinking distance $vt_r$ + braking distance $v^2/2a$.
• Braking distance grows with the square of speed.
• Distraction, tiredness and wet roads can multiply stopping distances.

Steps

1. Two parts
2. Stop before the crossing
3. Double the speed
4. Eyes off the road
5. Wet roads
6. 20 versus 30