What is the impact of speed on stopping distance?

Increased speed leads to longer stopping distances due to the fundamental physics involved in vehicle dynamics. When a vehicle is traveling at higher speeds, it possesses greater kinetic energy, which requires more time and distance to come to a complete stop. The stopping distance of a vehicle encompasses two main components: the reaction distance, which is how far a vehicle travels while a driver reacts after identifying a need to stop, and the braking distance, which is how far a vehicle travels while the brakes are being applied.

As speed increases, the distance covered during the reaction time remains constant, but the braking distance increases significantly due to the higher momentum that must be overcome. The relationship between speed and stopping distance is not linear; in fact, it is proportional to the square of the speed. This means that if the speed doubles, the stopping distance can increase four times, making it crucial for drivers to understand the importance of maintaining a safe speed to ensure they can stop in time when needed.