Displaying your knowledge of the stopping distance is an important part of the Theory test and Practical driving test.

This article will feature how to calculate a safe stopping distance, looking at how road conditions and speed can affect your breaking as well as each vehicles unique breaking ability.

Reaction time is an important factor, this means how quick you react to sudden road changes or accidents.Mental alertness, influenced by factors like sleep quality and stress levels, plays a huge role. While a sharp mind can significantly improve reaction times, mental fatigue or anxiety can hinder performance.

Thinking distance is the distance a vehicle travels during the time it takes for the driver to perceive a hazard, recognize that action needs to be taken and decide what the necessary action is, before applying pressure to the brakes.

Braking distance depends on how fast a vehicle is traveling before the brakes are applied, and is proportional to the square of the initial speed. This means that even small increases in speed mean significantly longer braking distances

As a rule, you should leave enough distance between you and the vehicle in front; in normal weather conditions, follow the two-second rule and leave a two-second gap. When the weather is bad and you are traveling on wet roads, this will affect stopping distance and you should keep a greater distance from the car in front, because it will take you longer to stop.

Typical stopping distance for different speeds:

20 mph > 3 car lengths

30 mph > 6 car lengths

40 mph > 9 car lengths

50 mph > 13 car lengths

60 mph > 18 car lengths

70 mph > 24 car lengths

Environmental conditions can significantly increase stopping distance. If there is poor visibility, the roads are wet or icy, or the roads are uneven, it will take you longer to stop.

Other factors that have a significant impact are tyre wear and the size of your vehicle. Heavier vehicles significantly affect overall stopping distance.

A free driving course is to be offered to elderly drivers, to help ensure they can continue to drive as they age.

It is said to be targeted at older motorists to help them maintain their driving independence for as long as possible. The Safer Essex Roads Partnership scheme has been created to help people over the age of 70 – born before 1954 – stay confident in the drivers seat, growing their confidence when dealing with different driving situations. Such as traffic volumes and speeds.

The course would not act in anyway as a driving test or impact the participants current license, it is solely designed to aid confidence.

The scheme can be adapted to the individual including the following :

• Navigating roundabouts and junctions
• Driving on motorways and dual carriage ways
• Driving at night
• improving knowledge on road signs and markings

The following is from The Safer Essex Roads website:

The Safer Essex Roads Partnership has brought together organisations across Greater Essex, to provide a road safety service.

SERP partners comprise Essex Police, Essex Fire and Rescue Service, Essex County Council, Southend City Council, Thurrock Council, National Highways, The Police Fire & Crime Commissioner for Essex, The Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust, The East of England Ambulance Trust and The Safer Roads Foundation.

Our aims

The partnership’s purpose is to lead on the reduction of death and serious injury on Essex roads towards zero. This is an ambitious vision and one which we cannot tackle alone – each road user plays a part.

We have set a challenging interim target to reduce death and serious injuries by 70% from the baseline average of 2005-2009, by 2030. This equates to fewer than 415 deaths and serious injuries.

By 2022, a 40% reduction had been achieved, with 822 deaths and serious injuries recorded for the year.

The reason for the ambitious target is that 826 lives cut short, permanently changed, or involved in serious injury resulting in hospitalization and time off work each year, is far too high. Many more lives – of the families and friends of those injured – are also changed in the instant their loved one is injured in a road traffic collision.

In 2023, there were 41 deaths, 819 serious injuries (more than two per day) and 2,795 slight injuries (more than 7 each day).

Research indicates that for every injury collision reported to the police, there are 10 damage-only collisions, so that’s over 100 crashes in Essex every day.

Our plan

We promote road safety and casualty reduction through a number of activities, interventions, programmes and products, which involve a combination of education, engagement, engineering and enforcement. You can find out more about how we will aim to achieve Vision Zero, through our Vision Zero strategy.

At Britannia we offer refresher courses which is also tailored to the individuals driving needs.

Here in Great Britain we have been driving on the left hand side of the road since 1835, but recently one maneuver has come become a hot topic.

The right turn has been labeled ‘the most hazardous’ according to data collected by The Department Of Transport. Although it appears to be seen as a simplified maneuver compared to the likes of a three-point turn or parallel parking, turning right quite commonly will involve cutting across a flow of opposite flowing traffic,it is commonly referred to as a CAT – cutting across traffic.

Whilst the majority of the world drive on the right, The UK Government considered switching to the right in 1969 but rejected the idea because of safety issues and the huge cost involved.

The research was carried out by Vehicle component marketplace Ovoko, they have stated motorists should be careful when conducting this maneuver.

Waiting for a safe gap is always the best option, ensure you take your time to be sure it is suitable to make the right turn.

Evidence suggests that a reason we drive on the left may have arisen from Ancient Roman times, as a matter of safety. One theory stems from when it was believed the best way to drive was on the right as the majority of the people are right handed so driving or riding on the left would mean they could wield a weapon in there dominant hand if they crossed path with an enemy.

Traffic data and information supplier Inrix has published a report 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard which indicates London has the most congested roads in Europe for the third year running. Motorists went through 99 hours on average in traffic in 2023, an increase compared to 97 hours the previous year. The report concluded that the roads in London are only just behind New York and Mexico. Both China and India were not included in the report.

Author of the report, Bob Pishue, said: “We are seeing travel return to pre-Covid levels.

“The UK and Europe have seen smaller increases in congestion this year than in other parts of the world which indicates that these countries have found their new travel norms.

“While London remains most impacted by congestion in the UK, its drop to third suggests that other large global cities have returned to pre-Covid levels of activity.

“As an indication of strong economic activity, increased congestion can be a positive sign for cities.”

The report indicated that the time spent in traffic was up by 3% when compared to levels from before the pandemic.

The fact levels continue to rise means more drivers have to factor in added time to their journeys and commutes, which of course is a frustrating factor added to most peoples mornings. This is also combined with added fuel for most motorists.

There has been talk of park and ride schemes being implemented which although will be a costly outlay, will help cut the daily traffic build up.

The other concern is the raising level of pollution due to the congestion.

London Air say:

“Diesel cars, trucks and buses emit particularly high concentrations of fine soot and large numbers of very toxic substances coat these particles. Toxic substances are also found in the coarse particles formed from brake wear and road surface abrasion and these particles are re-suspended in the air by moving traffic.”

In a recent article we published we touched upon the new AI cameras being trialed, designed to catch out ‘dangerous drivers’ who are using their mobile phone behind the wheel amongst other things.

Since then the cameras have been rolled out across the Midlands, since their launch they have caught out 100’s of motorists using their phones in one week. The use of a mobile phone whilst driving has been illegal since 2003, the use of the cameras will be a helpful tool to help crackdown on offenders.

180 drivers who were not wearing a seat-belt was also identified, which leads us into believing the cameras will be of good use to help stop these dangerous crimes which cause’s hundreds of deaths on the road per year.

The amount of drivers caught using a mobile phone whilst driving has dramatically decreased since 2011 as you can see from the stats below:

With the new AI cameras being able to spot more motorists on their phones the numbers are set to decline further in the coming years.

On May 20th a new law was passed the government’s Automated Vehicles Act and it means self-drive cars could be on our roads from 2026.

The new law is estimated to create 38,000 new employment opportunities, which is designed to positively boost our economy.

During the Kings speech back in November 23 he announced the bill. It is hoped that the new law will reduce the percentage of human error which is the cause of up to 88% of accidents on the roads.

It is thought that the self driving vehicle will considerably reduce to the amount of deaths caused by drink driving, tiredness and lack of concentration.

The self drive car manufactures will be held accountable if vehicles come into certain types of issues whilst on the road.The Government have assured road users that the car manufacturers, software developers and insurance companies will be held accountable rather than the driver.

The Department of Transport says:

Britain stands at the threshold of an automotive revolution and this new law is a milestone moment for our self-driving industry, which has the potential to change the way we travel forever.

While this doesn’t take away people’s ability to choose to drive themselves, our landmark legislation means self-driving vehicles can be rolled out on British roads as soon as 2026, in a real boost to both safety and our economy.

Emma at Britannia says:

Personally i wouldn’t feel safe, as computers can fail at any point.

Would you feel safe in a self drive vehicle? Let us know your thoughts..