CP2g Stopping Distances Flashcards
Thinking time
The distance travelled by a vehicle while the driver reacts
Braking distance
The distance travelled by a vehicle while the brakes are working to a halt
Stopping distance
The distance in which a car stops. The sum of the thinking distance and braking distance
Stopping distance (calculation)
Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance
Reaction time
The time between a person detecting a stimulus and their response
How can response times be measured using…
Computers or electric circuits that measure the time between a stimulus and a response
The typical reaction time to a visual stimulus is…
0.25 seconds
Factors that affect reaction times/ thinking distance
- Tiredness
- Illness
- Drug use
- Alcohol use
- Distractions (mobile phones)
Car brakes use friction to slow the car down. If the brakes are worn…
They create less friction and do not slow down the vehicle effectively
If the road is wet or has loose gravel on it, or the tyres are worn…
there is less friction and the braking distance is increased
If a vehicle has more mass…
more force is need to decelerate it
