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GCSE Combined Science · key term
The total distance a vehicle travels from when the driver notices a hazard until the vehicle stops: thinking distance plus braking distance.
Used by AQA and Edexcel
Specification 6.5.4.3.1, 6.5.4.3.3 · Paper 6
Revise: Stopping DistanceThe stopping distance is the whole distance travelled from noticing the hazard to coming to rest. It includes both stages, not just the distance travelled while braking.
The total distance a vehicle travels from the moment its driver recognises a hazard until the vehicle comes to rest. It equals thinking distance plus braking distance.
Paper 5, Paper 6
The total distance a vehicle travels from the driver noticing a hazard until the vehicle stops: thinking distance plus braking distance.
Revise: Reaction times, stopping distances and road safetyA vehicle's stopping distance is the total distance travelled from the driver noticing a hazard until the vehicle comes to rest. It has two distinct parts.
Stopping distance includes both thinking distance and braking distance; braking distance alone is not the total.
To find braking distance, subtract thinking distance from stopping distance. Give distances in metres.
Identify which part of stopping distance changes: tiredness increases thinking distance, while wet roads or worn brakes increase braking distance.
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