Braking Distance Flashcards
What four main factors is braking distance affected by?
How fast you’re going
The mass of the vehicle
How good your breaks are
How good the grip is
How fast you’re going -
The faster you’re going the further it takes to stop
The mass of the vehicle -
With the same brakes, the larger the mass of the vehicle, the longer it takes to stop. Car won’t stop as quickly when full of people and luggage and towing a caravan
How good your brakes are -
Brakes must be checked and maintained regularly. Worn/faulty breaks will let you down catastrophically in an emergency
How good the grip is -
Depends on 3 things:
- road surface
- weather conditions
- tyres
What do drivers need to do to avoid an accident?
Drivers need to leave enough space between their care and the one in front so if they stop suddenly they can do so safely
What does ‘enough space’ mean?
The stopping distance for whatever speed they’re going at
Why are speed limits important?
Because speed affects stopping distance so much
What is the braking distance?
The distance the car travels during its deceleration whilst the brakes are being applied
