Stopping distance is the total distance it takes for a moving vehicle to stop, including the distance travelled before the driver reacts and presses the brakes and the distance the car travels while decelerating to a complete stop.
Stopping distance is vital for safe driving, as it allows drivers to predict how long it will take them to stop and avoid accidents.
Stopping distance is equal the thinking distance and the braking distance. The thinking distance is the distance the vehicle travels during the driver’s reaction time, while the braking distance is the distance the vehicle travels while it is decelerating to a complete stop.
Stopping distance can be affected by some factors, such as speed, road conditions, and the condition of the vehicle’s brakes and tires.
To be safe on the road we need to keep the distance between the cars, drive within the speed limit to allow for adequate stopping distance. always be aware of their surroundings and to adjust the driving accordingly.
On Speed/Time graph (see diagram below), the Thinking Distance will be presented by horizontal line.
Thinking distance =Speed x Time
On the graph the Speed = 50 m/s and Time = 2 s,
so the Thinking Time = 50 m/s x 2 s = 100 m
Braking Distance = Area under the graph.
the downward line represents acceleration of the object.
area under this line equal area of the triangle.
Braking Distance = Area under the graph = Area of triangle = 1/2 x 50 m/s x 3 s = 75 m
Therefore,
Stopping Distance = Thinking Distance + Braking Distance = 100 m+ 75 m =175 m
Handouts: