Question 4399
As speed increases, the stopping distance...
- does not change.
- decreases.
- increases.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: increases.
Stopping distance is the sum of reaction distance and braking distance, and speed increases both. You travel more meters in the same reaction time, and braking distance increases with the square of speed, so at twice the speed you need four times as many meters to stop once you start braking. In the image, the red stopping-distance arrow spans the yellow reaction-distance arrow and the orange braking-distance arrow.