315 Feet To Stop From 70?

[ToraToraTora]

Top gear demonstrated last night that from 112mph it is posssible to stop a bog standard saloon in 315 feet. The distance that the highway code claims is needed to stop from 70. Time to rewrite the Highway code and increase the speed limits? ☺☺☺

[jim360]

It may depend on how you define the stopping distance. I've not seen the Top Gear show, but if they start counting from when you hit the brakes that's not what counts as "Stopping distance" for the purposes of the Highway Code, which should also include time between realising you need to stop and actually hitting the brake. For most people, this probably works out as around a second of travelling at 70mph, which adds 100 feet or so.

[jno]

I imagine their definitions aren't calculated from bog standard cars but for the slowest-responding ones.

[ToraToraTora]

FYI this is a slightly tongue in cheek post!

[ummmm]

All depends on the circumstances.

When you see the brakes lights on the car ahead you don't know if they are lightly breaking or slamming their breaks on.

[TWR]

Did they take into account the time it takes for the brain to send the signal to the foot to apply the brake?

[Dizmo]

TWR: Nope they didn't. They should of made them stop when they were told to at a random time. Thinking time + stopping distance; as James mentioned :)

[Old_Geezer]

It's likely with anti lock brakes and the ability to suddenly stand on them without skidding, that restrictions could be relaxed; but I doubt many adhere to the recommendations anyway. IMO the motorway speed limit could be increased a fair old bit and there would be little change from today, for most drivers.

[ToraToraTora]

wash your mouth out with soap OG, don't you know speed is the devils work?

[chas2008]

correct me if im am wrong but i would like to think it would vary model to model.
Also as a point of interest a couple of years ago as part of my job i came into contact with the traffic plod on a regular basis they all without exception would have liked the limit raised to 80mph, especially on motorways.

[bhg481]

I didn't watch the programme but I find it a great coincidence that 70mph = 112 kph and that the Highway Code stopping distance for this speed is 315 feet + thinking distance). Are you sure the speed was 112mph and not 112 kph?

[Baldric]

315 Ft including thinking distance

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/312249/the-highway-code-typical-stopping-distances.pdf

[Baldric]

^^^ from
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-highway-code-typical-stopping-distances

[anaxcrosswords]

@bhg. Definitely mph.
More interesting (to me) was the part in the previous week’s programme which led to this test being done. The guys took the 3 cars they were driving in Australia to 60mph before braking. 315ft on from the braking point was the marker and each car stopped within a quarter and a third of that distance. Bear in mind one car was a Bentley Continental – that’s a big lump to stop in less than 100ft!
Shows how outdated the current figures are.

[bhg481]

Thanks Baldric - I was actually looking at my printed copy of the Highway Code and the 75m stopping distance was in the crack of the pages so I missed it.I thought the red 96 m at the end of the line was the braking distance without thinking.
I actually tried to watch the programme on catch-up but it seemed to be a load of drivel about ambulances and I didn't manage to see the braking test - perhaps I skipped through too quickly.

[Slapshot]

Bog standard vauxhall Insignia last night

[FrogNog]

I am the world's worst passenger and it's mostly braking that bothers me.
If someone brakes ahead of the car I'm in and the driver doesn't at least lift their foot off the accelerator a little I'm a bag of nerves from thereon in.
I always respond immediately to brake lights ahead and if I slow the traffic down, so what, at least I won't be the one ramming you up the arriss unless some idiot shunts me into you.
I put my hazards on if it slows to below 10 mph too.
Don't like it? Bite me! :D

[FrogNog]

p.s. I'd start with my legs ;)