Texas Department Of Public Safety Practice Exam

When a motor vehicle with good brakes is traveling at 50 miles per hour, it can be brought to a complete stop under favorable circumstances in approximately 229 feet. This distance accounts for the typical reaction time of a driver and the braking distance needed to halt the vehicle effectively. To understand this context, it's important to recognize that at 50 miles per hour, a vehicle travels roughly 73 feet per second. The stopping distance includes two components: the distance traveled during the driver's reaction time and the distance it takes for the vehicle to come to a stop once the brakes are applied. The average reaction time is about 1.5 seconds, during which the vehicle would cover approximately 109.5 feet. The braking distance is influenced by various factors, including the condition of the road, the efficiency of the braking system, and the weight of the vehicle, but generally falls around 120 feet at this speed under ideal conditions. Therefore, combining both the reaction distance and braking distance leads to a total stopping distance that aligns closely with the correct answer of about 229 feet. This knowledge is crucial for drivers to gauge stopping distances effectively and ensure safety on the road.