What is the stopping distance for 60 mph?

• A. 12 metres
• B. 23 metres
• C. 73 metres
• D. 96 metres

Answer: (C)

Stopping distance is made up of two parts: thinking distance and braking distance. At 60 mph the thinking distance is about 18 metres—this is how far you travel from spotting a hazard to starting to brake, based on a typical reaction time. After you brake, the braking distance is about 55 metres on a dry road. Add them together and you get roughly 73 metres to come to a stop. This is the standard figure used for a dry road at 60 mph. In wet or icy conditions, or with worn tyres, the braking distance increases, so the total stopping distance would be longer. The other numbers reflect stopping distances at lower speeds or under poorer conditions, not the typical dry-road figure at 60 mph.