Driver Care – Know Your Stopping Distance
Q. How fast can you drive on a curve?
This is done on a level surface with two people in the stationary car. Two people are recommended for safety reasons. One person can drive and the other person can record the ball bank reading….How to Use a Ball Bank Indicator.
| Speed Range | Maximum Ball Bank Reading |
|---|---|
| < 20 mph | 16° |
| 25-30 mph | 14° |
| ≥30 mph | 12° |
Q. Which motorist is most at risk for drowsy driving?
Who is Most at Risk?
- Teenagers.
- People working long hours (over 60 hours a week) and shift workers.
- Long-haul drivers and commercial drivers.
- People with untreated and undiagnosed disorders (people with sleep apnea are at an increased risk of drowsy driving and falling asleep behind the wheel)
| Speed | Perception/Reaction Distance | Braking Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 40 mph | 59 feet | 80 feet |
| 50 mph | 73 feet | 125 feet |
| 60 mph | 88 feet | 180 feet |
| 70 mph | 103 feet | 245 feet |
Q. How long does it take to stop at 80 mph?
Stopping Distances
| Speed | Thinking Distance 2 | Braking Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 50 mph | 50 feet | 125 feet |
| 60 mph | 60 feet | 180 feet |
| 70 mph | 70 feet | 245 feet |
| 80 mph | 80 feet | 320 feet |
Q. How long does it take a car to stop going 25 mph?
A car moving at a speed of 60 mph will travel 132 feet before the car even starts braking. One going 25 mph will cover about 55 feet of road during this time period.
Q. How do you remember stopping distances?
All you need to do is multiply the speed by intervals of 0.5, starting with 2. That’ll give you the stopping distance in feet, which is acceptable for the theory test. For example… There are 3.3 feet in a metre – so divide the distance in feet by 3.3 to get the stopping distance in metres.
