How many metres does it take for a vehicle traveling at 80 km/h to stop completely?

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Multiple Choice

How many metres does it take for a vehicle traveling at 80 km/h to stop completely?

Stopping distance is made up of two parts: the distance you cover while you react to a hazard (thinking distance) and the distance it takes to brake to a stop (braking distance). Both parts grow with speed, and braking distance depends on road conditions and tire grip. At 80 km/h, your speed is about 22 meters per second. If you react in about 1 to 1.5 seconds, the thinking distance is roughly 22 to 33 meters. The braking distance varies a lot: on a dry road with good brakes it might be around 20–30 meters, but on wet, icy, or gravel surfaces it can be much longer. Add in less-than-ideal conditions or a longer reaction time, and the total stopping distance can easily push well past 140 meters. So, understanding stopping distance means recognizing that higher speeds require substantially more space to stop safely, especially when road conditions aren’t perfect.

Stopping distance is made up of two parts: the distance you cover while you react to a hazard (thinking distance) and the distance it takes to brake to a stop (braking distance). Both parts grow with speed, and braking distance depends on road conditions and tire grip.

At 80 km/h, your speed is about 22 meters per second. If you react in about 1 to 1.5 seconds, the thinking distance is roughly 22 to 33 meters. The braking distance varies a lot: on a dry road with good brakes it might be around 20–30 meters, but on wet, icy, or gravel surfaces it can be much longer. Add in less-than-ideal conditions or a longer reaction time, and the total stopping distance can easily push well past 140 meters.

So, understanding stopping distance means recognizing that higher speeds require substantially more space to stop safely, especially when road conditions aren’t perfect.

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