Key Stage 4
Meaning
Thinking distance is the distance a car travels between the moment a hazard appears and the moment the driver responds to it by applying the brakes.
About Stopping Distance
Thinking distance depends on:
- The speed of the vehicle - The greater the speed the larger the thinking distance.
- The reaction time of the driver - The longer the reaction time the longer the thinking distance and therefore stopping distance.
- Thinking distance can be affected by drugs such as stimulants and depressants. Stimulants allow you to react faster so there is a shorter reaction time and therefore a shorter thinking distance. Depressants slow reactions so there is a longer reaction time and therefore a longer thinking distance.
- Alcohol is a depressant so it increases thinking distance making it dangerous to drive after drinking alcohol.
- Tiredness increases reaction time which increases thinking distance which makes driving while tired more dangerous.
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