How many feet does it take to stop a vehicle with good brakes from 20 miles per hour under good conditions?

Stopping a vehicle involves two main components: the thinking distance and the braking distance. At a speed of 20 miles per hour, a vehicle in good condition with good brakes would typically take about 63 feet to come to a stop under ideal conditions. This distance includes the distance covered while the driver is reacting to the need to stop (thinking distance) and the distance it takes for the vehicle to actually stop once the brakes are applied (braking distance).

The calculation takes into account the average perception and reaction time for a driver, as well as the efficiency of braking at that speed. In an ideal scenario with no distractions and proper road conditions, this figure serves as a safe guideline for drivers to understand how much stopping distance is needed when traveling at 20 mph. This foundational knowledge is crucial for safe driving and understanding how speed affects stopping distances overall.