What are the components of the stopping distance?
- The sum of the braking distance and the gap from the vehicle in front.
- The average of the driver’s braking distance and reaction distance.
- Correct answer: The sum of the reaction time and of the braking distance.
- The sum of the decision distance and the execution distance of a reasonable driver.
Why this is the answer
The correct answer in the official bank: The sum of the reaction time and of the braking distance.
Stopping distance is the whole distance a vehicle covers from the moment the driver notices a hazard until it comes to a complete stop. It adds together two parts: the distance travelled during the driver's reaction time, before the brakes are applied, and the braking distance, from the start of braking until the stop. It is a sum, not an average, and the gap to the vehicle ahead is not part of it.