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Road Safety
Speeding Increases Braking Distance
A motorist views an obstacle ahead: during the reaction time and braking manoeuvre, the vehicle will travel some distance before coming to a stop. This is what is known as stopping distance.
Stopping distance depends on reaction time and braking time.
During the reaction time, or the time it takes for a driver to apply the brakes after making the decision to stop, the vehicle travels some distance. Average reaction time is 1.3 seconds. The faster a vehicle is moving, the longer the distance the vehicle will travel during the reaction time.
During the braking time, a driver brakes until the vehicle comes to a stop. The faster a vehicle is moving at the moment of braking, the longer the distance the vehicle will travel during this time. Brake and tire wear, a vehicle's weight and the condition of the roadway are factors that can contribute to longer braking distance.
Contrary to popular belief, anti-lock braking systems (ABS) do not reduce braking distance. On a dry or wet roadway, the braking distance of ABS brakes is approximately the same as conventional brakes. On gravel, slush and snow, however, the braking distance of ABS brakes is longer than the distance of conventional brakes.
The increase in stopping distance is not linear. It more than doubles between 30 and 50 km/h and nearly triples between 50 and 100 km/h. This is the main reason speeding increases the accident rate.
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