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Breaking distance is defined as the distance traveled after applying brake till the vehicle stops. It is a critical factor in road safety and traffic engineering calculations.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The breaking distance is calculated by subtracting the lag distance (distance traveled before applying brakes) from the total stopping sight distance.
Details: Accurate breaking distance calculation is crucial for road design, vehicle safety assessment, and determining safe driving speeds. It helps in designing appropriate road signage and ensuring safe stopping capabilities.
Tips: Enter stopping sight distance and lag distance in meters. Both values must be positive numbers, and SSD must be greater than or equal to LD for valid results.
Q1: What factors affect breaking distance?
A: Breaking distance is influenced by vehicle speed, road conditions, tire quality, brake efficiency, and vehicle weight.
Q2: How does breaking distance relate to total stopping distance?
A: Total stopping distance includes both reaction distance (distance traveled during driver reaction time) and breaking distance.
Q3: Why is lag distance important in this calculation?
A: Lag distance accounts for the distance traveled between seeing an obstacle and actually applying the brakes, which is crucial for accurate safety calculations.
Q4: What are typical breaking distances for different speeds?
A: Breaking distance increases exponentially with speed. At 30 mph, it might be around 14 meters, while at 60 mph, it could be over 55 meters on dry pavement.
Q5: How do road conditions affect breaking distance?
A: Wet or icy roads can significantly increase breaking distance. Breaking distance on wet roads can be double that on dry roads, and on ice, it can be up to 10 times longer.