Stopping Distance Flashcards
How does your speed affect the amount of braking force you’ll need to stop in a given distance?
The faster you’re going, the larger the braking force required
How does speed affect your brakng distance?
The faster you’re going, the larger your braking distance
Why in real life is it not as simple as ‘for any given braking force, the faster you’re going the greater the stopping distance’
Because if the maximum braking force is not enough then you’ll go further before you stop
Define ‘total stopping distance’
The distance covered in the time between the driver first spotting the hazard and the vehicle coming to a complete stop
What is the stopping distance the sum of?
The thinking distance and the braking distance
Define ‘thinking distance’
The distance the vehicle travels betweent he driver spotting the hazard and taking action (reaction time)
What is thinking distance NOT the same as?
Reaction time
THINKING DISTANCE measures how far the vehicle travels, not just how reactive the driver is
What are the 2 main factors that affect thinking time?
- How fast you’re going
- How dopey you are
What 4 things could cause a ‘dopey’ driver?
- Tiredness
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- A careless, blasé attitude
Name 2 factors that affect when the driver breaks
- Visibility
- Distractions
(NOTE: do not affect thinking distance - just how long it takes for the driver to see the object and thus begin the ‘thinking distance’ phase ja?)
Define ‘braking distance’
The distance the car travels under the breaking force
(between the braking force being applied and the car completely stopping)
What are the 4 main factors that affect breaking distance?
- How fast you’re going
- The quality of your brakes
- The quality of your tyres
- The grip
The faster you’re going the…
… further the braking distance
The better your brakes the…
…less likely you are to skid so the smaller your braking distance (generally)
