How does speeding impact stopping distance?

When a vehicle is speeding, the stopping distance is significantly increased due to several factors related to physics and reaction times. The stopping distance is composed of two primary components: the reaction distance and the braking distance. When a driver is traveling faster, they have to cover a greater distance before they can come to a complete stop.

At higher speeds, the reaction distance increases because the driver has less time to perceive a need to stop and to take action. Additionally, the braking distance, which is the distance the vehicle travels while it is slowing down after applying the brakes, also increases with speed. This is due to the fact that the kinetic energy of the vehicle is proportional to the square of its speed. Therefore, if the speed doubles, the kinetic energy—and subsequently the stopping distance—more than doubles.

This relationship underscores why speeding drastically affects how far a vehicle will continue to travel before it can stop, making it crucial for drivers to adhere to speed limits for safety and to reduce the potential for accidents.