How fast you drive does not affect the distance your vehicle travels after you brake to come to a stop.
Answers
TRUE
FALSE
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is FALSE.
The speed at which you drive directly affects the distance your vehicle travels after you brake to come to a stop. This distance is called the “stopping distance” and is influenced by both the initial speed of the vehicle and the braking capability of the vehicle.
Stopping distance is made up of two components:
- Reaction Distance – the distance your car travels while you perceive the need to stop and apply the brakes. This distance depends on your reaction time (usually around 1 to 1.5 seconds) and the vehicle’s speed. For instance, if you’re traveling at 60 mph, you’ll cover 88 feet per second. If it takes 1 second to react, the car will travel 88 feet before the brakes even start to engage.
- Braking Distance – the distance your car travels while the brakes are applied until it comes to a complete stop. This is primarily determined by the vehicle’s speed and the friction between the tires and the road. The faster you go, the longer it takes to stop. For example, at 30 mph, the braking distance might be about 30 feet, but at 60 mph, it could increase to over 100 feet.
The Relationship Between Speed and Stopping Distance:
- The stopping distance increases more than linearly with speed. For example, if you double your speed from 30 mph to 60 mph, the stopping distance does not just double but actually increases four times. This is due to the fact that the energy required to stop a vehicle increases with the square of the speed.
In conclusion, higher speeds lead to a significantly greater stopping distance, making it more difficult to come to a stop quickly or safely, especially in emergency situations. Therefore, it’s crucial to drive at safe speeds, considering both the road conditions and your ability to stop in time.