Ever been curious why speed limits exist? No, they aren’t just there to be a nuisance while we’re driving. There’s a reason why speed limits exist, and why we are encouraged not to speed in our vehicles. Speed has a direct impact on braking, so just because you think you’ll be able to stop in time, doesn’t mean you car will follow suit.
So why does speed affect braking distance? To put it simply, the faster you’re going in your car, the longer your braking distance will be. However, there are many other factors that will affect braking distance including tire condition, road conditions, and the driver.
If you have ever wondered how speed relates to how quickly your car can break, you’re going to want to know all of the imperative details surrounding braking distance. There’s several different factors that come into play, and we’re going to discuss the ins and outs of speed and braking distance.
A Vehicle’s Braking Distance Changes with Speed
The most important factor when it comes to braking distance is how fast you are going. There is a direct relation to speed, and when your car will actually come to a complete stop once you hit the brakes. The time it takes the car to stop after hitting the brake is the actual braking distance, and it changes with each increase in speed.
Thinking Distance
The first thing to consider is what is called the thinking distance. This is the amount of time it takes for the driver to actually hit the brake pedal. A lot of things will change the thinking distance, including how big of a threat is up ahead, if you think you can make the yellow light or not, or if you’re tired and sleepy and don’t have a good reaction time at the moment. Aside from these factors, you must also take into consideration how quickly you can go from gas to brake pedal; usually takes a few seconds, so that comes into play with the thinking distance as well.
Actual Braking Distance
The actual braking distance is configured from the specific time you hit the brake pedal to the time your car comes to a complete stop. But did you know that the faster you’re going, the more time you will need to stop? It isn’t as simple as it would seem. You see, a car that has doubled its speed will actually quadruple braking speed. Think about it like this:
- A car going 20 miles per hour will take roughly 40 feet to stop completely.
- On the other hand, a car that’s going faster at 20 miles per hour will need 120 feet to stop completely.
- Someone going 60 miles per hour will need upwards of 240 feet to stop the car completely.
- A car going 80 miles per hour will need a whopping 320 feet to stop the vehicle.
Knowing that the faster you’re going has a direct relation to how quickly you can stop can save you from being involved in an accident. The faster you’re driving, the longer amount of space you will need to brake. This is why it’s imperative to refrain from speeding, as you will not give yourself (and other drives) ample room to stop the car without being involved in a collision.
Factors to Consider When it Comes to Braking Distance
As we previously mentioned, there are a lot of different things to consider when it comes to braking distance. There are driver factors, vehicle factors, and road conditions that can all come into play and making braking better, or more difficult, requiring more time for the driver to halt their vehicle.
Driver Factors
The person who is driving the car has a direct relation to how well the car can brake. There are several different factors that can affect a driver, and each will have an impact on how well the car is able to brake and how much of the braking distance will be affected.
- If the driver is not paying attention- for instance, they are looking down at their phone- they may not see something that is coming up ahead. In this circumstance, the brakes will be slammed as soon as possible, which is sometimes too late. Paying attention while driving is crucial to avoiding accidents and improving your braking distance.
- A driver who is fatigued will not have as good of a reaction time as someone who is alert and well rested. A fatigued driver will need more braking distance as they take a slower time to react to situations.
- A new driver on the road may not know that it takes a longer amount of time to brake the faster they are going. That being said, it’s easier for a new driver to misjudge situations and end up not braking in time.
- It’s important to ensure that you’re wearing your glasses, if necessary, while driving. Someone who is visually impaired will not be able to react in time and have proper braking distance if they can’t see what’s going on ahead of them accurately.
Vehicle Factors
Another important factor to consider is the vehicle and tires. These are some of the things to consider when you’re accurately timing braking distance:
- An older car may have a more difficult time slowing down than the newer, more precise models on the market.
- The condition of the brakes is one of the most crucial elements that go hand in hand with braking distances. Think about it: a pair of perfectly working, newer brakes will be able to cut down braking distances compared to a pair of brakes that are on their last leg and screech when the gas pedals pushed down. Ensuring your brakes are working properly will help to ensure braking distance is good and accurate.
- Another imperative element to consider with braking distance and cars is the condition of the tires. Tires that have good tread will be far easier to bring to a stop than a car that doesn’t have a good set of wheels. Always ensure your tires have enough tread and are in good working condition to help with braking distance.
- The weight of your vehicle also comes into play. A bigger, heavier vehicle such as a 4 door truck will need more time to come to a stop than a small sedan that can whip around and come to a halt with ease. Consider the weight and calculate that into your braking distance.
Road Factors
Lastly you need to consider the condition of the roads you’re driving on.
- The surface of the road should be considered. A street with no cracks with ample gradient and alignment will be far easier to brake on than a street that doesn’t have a good surface.
- Also consider weather conditions and how they impact the roads. A road that has become wet due to rain will require far more braking distance on the driver’s part to handle the stopping. Without the added braking time for wet roads, you’re likely to find yourself swerving instead of stopping. Another thing to consider is snow. Snow can cause roads to become icy, and this will require a lot more time for braking.
Conclusion
When it comes to braking, always remember that the speed you’re driving it has a direct relationship to how long it takes you to stop. There are also many factors, including the condition of the driver, the vehicle, and the roads.
