Braking and Thinking Distances

Bringing together the data for thinking and braking distances, we can add the together to give us the overall stopping distance:

Speed (mph)	Speed (m/s)	Thinking Distance (m)	Braking Distance (m)	Stopping Distance (m)
20	8·9	6	6	12
30	13·3	9	14	23
40	17·8	12	24	36
50	22·2	15	38	53
60	26·7	18	56	74
70	31·1	21	75	96

Let's combine a graph of thinking and braking distances to give some idea as to which factor is most important.

Go back a page

Forces & Motion Menu

Go to next page