Which of the following factors has direct influence on the stopping distance of the passenger car?
Show the correct answer
Correct answer
A. The driver's reaction time.
Explanation
The driver's reaction time has a direct influence on the stopping distance of a passenger car - answer A. The weight of the passengers (B) and the weight of the vehicle (C) in a passenger car change the braking distance only slightly, because the braking system is designed for these loads.
The stopping distance is the sum of the distance travelled during the reaction time and the braking distance. An average driver reacts after about one second, and a driver who is tired, distracted by a phone or has been drinking alcohol reacts much more slowly; at 90 km/h each second means 25 m of driving without braking. The Road Traffic Act requires you to drive at a speed that allows you to keep control of the vehicle and to keep the distance needed to avoid a collision, which is why you measure the distance in seconds, not in metres, and you take care of your own concentration.
Legal basis: Art. 19 para. 1 and para. 2 point 3 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)