Being aware of how stopping distances work is imperative to the safety of you, your passengers and other drivers around you.
The science behind it is based on a few simple, visible variables, so does not take long to get a grasp of.
Here are some general rules that you should know:
Thinking distance
This element of your total stopping distance relies on your reaction times.
It is the time taken between realising you need to stop and hitting the breaks.
Do not drive around thinking ‘my reaction times are great, I can push the speed a little’, because this will still increase your overall stopping distance.
Braking distance
This is the time it takes for your vehicle to stop after you have fully applied the brakes.
This time is impacted by both the speed you are going, as well as the road and weather conditions.
On wet roads, your braking distance is double what it would be on a dry road. In icy conditions, your braking distance becomes more like 10x as far.
The two-second rule
If you’re currently in the process of learning to drive, you’ve probably noticed your instructor mention this rule.
This rule consists of always giving yourself at least a 2-second gap between yourself and the vehicle in front. You can use landmarks like trees and lampposts and count the time it takes you to pass it after the vehicle in front has.
If you’re passing said landmark within the 2-seconds, back off a little. There’s no problem with being 3+ seconds behind, but you do have a little room to manoeuvre.
The effect of rain on your stopping distance
Quite simply, your tyres do not have as much grip when on a wet surface.
As mentioned, this means your stopping distance is roughly doubled compared to that of a dry surface.
As a result of this, you should reduce your speed and allow a 4-second rule between yourself and the vehicle in front.
The effect of icy roads and your stopping distance
Icy roads are incredibly dangerous and should be avoided if possible. The increase in stopping distance can be detrimental.
Both acceleration and braking are affected by the lack of grip on the roads, so accelerate and brake much less harshly than you normally would. Be gentle.
Being comfortable with how stopping distances work and how to implement them is important to becoming a safe, well-rounded driver, and also may appear on your theory test.
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