Stopping distances

[Rosie.]

Not really road rules as such but anyway �Doing a little reading today on stopping distances (these things I fill my day with) and the highway code states that it can take up to 96 metres/315 feet/24 car lengths to stop a car at 70mph. Fine. In terms of the fact that that is supposed to multiply by ten in snow/ice, at the risk of sounding like an idiot, does this actually happen? If you are travelling 70mph would it really take over HALF A MILE to stop in snow?! (240 car lengths!) Seems quite far to me. Has this ever happened to anyone?

[Richie1976]

It's complete rubbish, it depends on so many different things. Cars these days will stop in less than half that, especially sports cars.

[Toureman]

The overall stopping distances in the highway code have not been updated for about 60 years so they don't mean anything now !

In snow or ice the distance will go up dramatically, could multiply by ten.

[derekpara]

Use the Three Second Rule ( in good conditions) and you won't go far wrong. ie When the vehicle in front passes a fixed point, say ' Only a Fool Breaks the Three Second Rule' before you pass the same point. This works at any speed.

In poor conditions , say the sentence twice !

[NORMANTHEDOG]

and yet they still use them in the theory test

[derekpara]

Yes, Norman ,but not in the Advanced Motorists test.

[Gef]

I wouldn't be driving at 70mph on a snow covered road. Don't know what Richie is talking about. The drivers have not improved over the years.

[rojash]

The key phrase is "up to". And as Gef says, only a total idiot would be doing 70 in ice and snow.

[ugly_bob]

derekpara - 3 second rule? As far as I've always known it was 2 seconds. That's what my sister's just been taught too.

Rosie I can see it quite easily taking over half a mile to stop from 70mph on snow/ice. 70mph is bloody fast if you've got no grip

[derekpara]

Hi, Bob. I thought it was 2-seconds as well, but it seems to take me three seconds to say it ! How about you ?

[DC_FC]

it depends on the quality of the tyres, the brakes, how hard the driver applies the brakes

[madman06]

2 second or 3 second gap the more gap the better,i keep a good distance from car in front in any weather,(NOT A SUNDY DRIVER) but i cant see point of been up driver in fronts arse the highway code was done befor ABS

[testmonkey]

What's ABS got to do with it? ABS actually increases the overall braking distance beyond the theoretical minimum. It's only fitted as most drivers under most circumstances do not have the required skill level to achieve optimal braking performance.