Stopping distance is made up of thinking distance
and braking distance
Both increase as the speed increases
thinking distance increases in proportion to increasing
speed
A graph of thinking distance against
speed would be a straight
line
Braking distance increases as the square of the speed
The graph would look like this
the braking distance has a greater increase as
the speed increases
= 12 m
(40ft)
3 car lengths
=23m
(75ft)
6 car lengths
= 36m
(120ft)
9car lengths
=53m
(175ft)
13car lengths
= 73m
(240ft)
18car lengths
Things which affect stopping distance
Thinking distance
(all these things are to with the drive)
drinking alcohol, taking drugs,
tiredness, illness, not concentrating,
Braking distance
(all these things are to do with the car and road conditions)
worn tyres, poor brakes, wet roads,
icy conditions, oil or grease on the road, etc.
Never confuse thinking
Distance with
Reaction time