Study topic
Stopping distances in Ireland
Stopping distances are a key area of the theory test. Understanding how speed, road conditions, and reaction time combine to determine how far your vehicle travels before stopping could save a life.
Key facts to remember
- ◆ Overall stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance.
- ◆ Thinking distance: the distance your car travels during your reaction time (typically about 1 second).
- ◆ At 50 km/h the overall stopping distance is approximately 25 metres in dry conditions.
- ◆ At 100 km/h the overall stopping distance can exceed 70 metres in dry conditions.
- ◆ Wet roads can double braking distances; ice can multiply them by ten or more.
The two-second rule is the minimum safe following gap in dry conditions. Double it to four seconds in wet conditions and increase it further in fog, ice, or when towing.