Reaction times Flashcards
Reaction time
The length of time taken for a person to respond to a given stimulus or event.
Thinking distance
How far the car travels during the driver’s reaction time.
Thinking distance is affected by:
- speed-the faster you are going the further you will travel during the time you take to react.
- reaction time-the longer the reaction time, the longer your thinking distance is
Braking distance
The distance taken to stop under the braking force.
Braking force is affected by:
- speed
- weather or road surface
- worn tyres
- worn breaks
Stopping distance
The shortest distance a vehicle can safely stop in.
Stopping distance
The total distance travelled from when the driver first spots the obstruction to when the car stops.
If a vehicle is travelling at a constant speed in a straight line…
the resistive forces are balancing the driving force.
The greater the braking force…
the greater the deceleration of the vehicle.
Large decelerations can lead to…
breaks overheating and/or loss of control.
How can be reaction time affected?
- tiredness
- distractions
- drugs
- alcohol
Adverse road conditions
-wet or icy conditions, which reduces the friction between the tyre and the road
When the brakes of the vehicle are applied:
- work done by the friction force between brakes and wheel reduces kinetic energy
- increase the temperature of brakes
