Stopping Distances Summary

Stopping is made up of two parts: thinking and braking.

Thinking time is the reaction time, when your brain is responding to the hazard ahead of you.

Braking time is the time taken to slow the vehicle down from your initial speed to zero.

Stopping time is the thinking and braking times added together. The total time to stop a moving vehicle.

Thinking distance is the distance travelled during the thinking time.

Many factors affect thinking distance. Most involve distractions or physical/mental incapactity.

Braking distance is the distance travelled during the braking time.

Many factors affect braking distance. Most involve applied forces being smaller.

Stopping distance is the sum of the thinking and braking distances.

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