Sometimes you need to stop in a hurry when you drive. Otherwise, a crash will occur. Yet if you ask most people how long it takes to stop a car, they would not have a clue.
How long it takes to stop depends on several factors. The main one is speed. The faster you travel, the longer it takes to stop. Here’s how long it takes, on average, to stop a vehicle based on its speed:
- 27 ft at 10 mph
- 63 ft at 20 mph
- 109ft at 30 mph
- 164ft at 40mph
- 229ft at 50mphg
- 304ft at 60mph
- 388ft at 70mph
Tires and brakes can also affect stopping distance
Modern cars have excellent braking systems. Some have sensors that operate the brakes if they realize the driver is not doing so soon enough or hard enough. Yet even those will be useless if the tires and brake pads are overly worn.
The road surface can lengthen the time needed to halt
Wet or greasy road surfaces provide less traction for the wheels to bite, increasing the distance to stop. Loose surfaces, such as when gravel has spilled, do the same and can often cause the car to skid, so the car keeps moving forward even though the wheels stop turning.
Even the best car will take a long time to stop if the driver is distracted
If a driver fails to stop in time to avoid crashing into you, you will need legal help to understand why that was. If you can show they were distracted, their car was poorly maintained, or drink, drugs, age or illness slowed their reactions, you will have a better chance of getting the full compensation you need.
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