Question 809 in the bank

What is the relation between the vehicles speed and the vehicle’s stopping distance?

  1. The higher the vehicle’s speed is, the shorter is its stopping distance.
  2. There is no relation between them. The stopping distance is constant and does not depend on the vehicle’s speed.
  3. The slower the vehicle’s speed is, the longer is the braking distance.
  4. Correct answer: The higher the vehicle’s speed is, the longer is its stopping distance.

Why this is the answer

The correct answer in the official bank: The higher the vehicle’s speed is, the longer is its stopping distance.

Stopping distance is the reaction distance plus the braking distance, and both grow with speed. During your reaction time the vehicle keeps moving, so it covers more ground at higher speed. Braking distance grows even faster, roughly four times when speed doubles. So driving slower shortens the stopping distance, and it is never a fixed value.

Topic: Safety. The bank marks it for these classes: Light truck (C1), Heavy truck (C), Bus (D), Motorcycle (A), Tractor (1), Private car (B).