A vehicle’s stopping distance is the amount of space it needs to come to a halt after the brakes are pressed. This is very important in rear-end accidents. If a driver starts pressing the brakes while they are already too close to the vehicle ahead of them, they may not have the necessary stopping distance and they cannot avoid the crash.
Exactly how long they need depends on the type of vehicle that they are driving. For passenger cars, the average stopping distance tends to be just over 300 feet. But for semi-trucks, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, the stopping distance is usually over 500 feet. A truck driver may need almost twice as much space to stop, making it very important that they maintain a proper following distance.
Braking does not start right away
Another concept drivers should keep in mind is that there is a delay every time they hit the brakes. It is roughly 1.5 seconds long. The first 3/4 of a second is when the driver is cognitively realizing that they need to hit the brakes, and the second 3/4 of a second is as they move their foot to the brake pedal and begin to push it down.
It may sound like this all happens very quickly, but a vehicle that is driving 55 mph would still cover around 121 feet during that 1.5 seconds. This can also lead to rear-end accidents when drivers simply do not start braking quickly enough, even if they think they reacted immediately.
A rear-end accident could lead to significant injuries, and those who have been hurt in the crash may be able to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more.