6/16/12 Stopping distances for cars - Road Safety Authority Rules of the Road

Stopping distances for cars

Many drivers have a false belief that if the car in front starts braking they can react, brake and come to a stop,
still leaving the same distance between the two vehicles.

The total stopping distance of your vehicle depends on four things:

your perception time,

your reaction time,
your vehicle reaction time, and
your vehicle braking capability.

Your perception time is how long you take to see a hazard and your brain realising it is a hazard requiring you to
take immediate action. This can be as long as 1/4 to 1/2 of a second.

Your reaction time is how long you take to move your foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal once your
brain understands you are in danger. Your reaction time can vary from 1/4 to 3/4 of a second.

These first 2 components of stopping distance are down to you and can be affected by alcohol, drugs, tiredness,
fatigue or lack of concentration. A perception and reaction time of 4 seconds at 100 km/h means the car travels
110 metres before the brakes are applied (this is more than the length of a football pitch).

Once you apply the brake pedal it will take time for your vehicle to react. This depends on the condition your
vehicle is in and, in particular, the condition of the braking system.

The last factor that determines your total stopping distance is the vehicle's braking capability. This depends on
many things, for example:

brakes,
tyre pressure, tread and grip,
the weight of the vehicle,
the vehicle's suspension, and
road surface.

Table 5: Stopping distance under dry conditions

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6/16/12 Stopping distances for cars - Road Safety Authority Rules of the Road

Speed (km/h) Reaction distance (m) Braking distance (m) Total stoppingg distance (m)

5.5 5.3 10.8

9.2 14.8 24.0

11.0 21.4 32.4

14.7 38.0 52.7

18.3 59.4 77.7

22 85.5 107.5

Source Transport Research Laboratory, UK, 2007, © Road Safety Authority, 2007

Table 6: Stopping distance under wet conditions

Speed (km/h) Reaction distance (m) Braking distance (m) Total stoppingg distance (m)

5.5 9.4 14.9

9.2 26.1 35.2

11.0 37.5 48.5

14.7 66.7 81.4

18.3 104.3 122.6

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22 150.2 172.2

Source Transport Research Laboratory, UK, 2007, © Road Safety Authority, 2007

It is worth noting that from 50km/h to 100km/h the total braking distance of your car can increase from 15
metres to 60 metres. When you double the speed of your car you multiply the total braking distance four times.

Remember a 5km/h difference in your speed could be the difference between life and death for a vulnerable road
user like a pedestrian.

Hit by a car at 60km/h, 9 out of 10 pedestrians will be killed.

Hit by a car at 50km/h, 5 out of 10 of pedestrians will be killed.
Hit by a car at 30km/h, 1 out of 10 pedestrians will be killed.

Source RoSPA UK

Source Transport Research Laboratory, UK, 2007, © Road Safety Authority, 2007

Skidding
Any factor which reduces the grip of your tyres on the road is a possible source of skidding. Wet or greasy
roads, overloading, worn or improperly inflated tyres, mud, leaves, ice, snow, harsh acceleration, sudden
braking, or excessive speed for the conditions can all cause or contribute to a skid.

Aquaplaning occurs when a car is being driven on a wet road and a film of water builds up between the tyres and
the road surface.

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6/16/12 Stopping distances for cars - Road Safety Authority Rules of the Road

When that happens, the car loses contact with the road, and braking and steering is affected.

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An Article printed from the Irish Rules of the Road (www.rulesoftheroad.ie) © 2007 Road Safety Authority

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