Which statement best describes reaction distance?

Which statement best describes reaction distance?

• A. Time between perception and braking
• B. Distance traveled after perception before braking
• C. Distance from brake pedal to floor
• D. Distance traveled during braking

Answer: (B)

Reaction distance is the distance a car covers from the moment the driver perceives a hazard until the brakes are applied. It’s a distance, not a time. It depends on how fast the vehicle is going and how long the driver takes to react. For example, at 60 mph with about a one-second reaction time, you’d cover roughly 88 feet before you start braking. This distance adds to the distance traveled while the brakes are actually slowing the car to give the total stopping distance. The other ideas mix up time, pedal travel, or the braking phase rather than the distance traveled during the reaction time.

Reaction distance is the distance a car covers from the moment the driver perceives a hazard until the brakes are applied. It’s a distance, not a time. It depends on how fast the vehicle is going and how long the driver takes to react. For example, at 60 mph with about a one-second reaction time, you’d cover roughly 88 feet before you start braking. This distance adds to the distance traveled while the brakes are actually slowing the car to give the total stopping distance. The other ideas mix up time, pedal travel, or the braking phase rather than the distance traveled during the reaction time.