Free Tool · Physics, Not Guesswork
Stopping Distance Calculator
See how far your car really travels before it stops — reaction distance + braking distance — at any speed, in any weather.
For Driving Schools & Bloggers
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Questions
Stopping Distance — FAQ
What is total stopping distance?
Reaction distance (how far you travel while your brain and foot respond — typically 1.5 seconds) PLUS braking distance (how far the car travels while the brakes bring it to zero). At 100 km/h on a dry road that totals around 90–100 metres — the length of a football pitch.
How much does rain or ice change it?
Braking distance is inversely proportional to grip. Wet asphalt roughly DOUBLES braking distance versus dry; packed snow triples it or more; ice can multiply it by eight. Your reaction distance never changes — which is why speed matters most in bad weather.
Why does speed matter so much?
Braking distance grows with the SQUARE of speed: doubling from 50 to 100 km/h makes the braking portion four times longer, not twice. This is also why every 1% of extra speed raises fatal crash risk by roughly 4%.
What reaction time should I assume?
Alert drivers manage about 1.0–1.5 seconds. Tired, distracted or impaired drivers take 2–3+ seconds — at motorway speed each extra second adds ~30 metres of travel before you even touch the brake.
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