Hi all,
Have decided to try and learn to drive  :) so started learning all the theory stuff, but not very good at stopping distances, so just wondered if any of you knew of any way I could remember them or work them out?
Thanks
Lou

Not sure how accurate this is - but I was always told that you should leave one car's length for each 10mph :)

Daisy

   Typical Stopping Distances


   
20
MPH   
6 metres     6 metres = 12 metres
(40 feet)
or 3 car lengths

30
MPH   
9 metres     14 metres = 23 metres
(75 feet)
or 6 car lengths

40
MPH   
12 metres     24 metres = 36 metres
(120 feet)
or 9 car lengths

50
MPH   
15 metres 38 metres = 53 metres
(175 feet)
or 13 car lengths

60
MPH   
18 metres 55 metres = 73 metres
(240 feet)
or 18 car lengths

70
MPH   
21 metres 75 metres = 96 metres
(315 feet)
or 24 car lengths


They are all given in 2 lots of measurements- thinking distance and actual distance needed to stop the vehicle. You won't need to know both for your test just concentrate on remembering the final overall stopping distance (the thinking and stopping distance added together)

I think that I'm getting muddled with the distance to leave between cars :D :D Senile decay already :D

Daisy

Hi Boxerluv, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but i'm afraid you will need to learn the thinking distance, the braking distance and the overall stopping distance because you could be asked any one of these combinations on the theory test.

And then you drive on one of the motorways and realise that no-one else is the least bit interested in stopping distances especially if they are driving a large lorry

Dill - after a hair-raising trip to Brum and back today :( :(

PS. Boxerluv is right ;) Good luck with your theory test - won't be long before your driving :)

Hi all,
Thanks for the replys and the help, think it will take me for ever to learn, we are moving house in about a month so haven't started lesson yet, waiting untill we have moved so I don't have to change car, instructer, etc.
Is there an easy way to remember the stopping distances, think I remember someone saying there was a way you could work them out if you couldn't remember them?
Thanks again
Lou (still laughing at Daisy and Dill)   :)

Don't forget to add more if it is raining and if the ground is icy just change the metres to miles :D

Hi, I am taking driving lessons (well only had 4 so far). I am hopeless at remembering the stopping distances, my theory test is booked for September.

I am using one of the CD roms to practice, I usually pass the test and don't come across stopping distance questions very often. I find it alot easier to learn with rather than the books, and its good practice for when you take the test for real.

Really wish I had learnt years ago before the theory test started :(

You still had to answer Highway Code questions when you got back to the Test Centre. You sat in the car with the examiner and had to answer from memory (no multiple choice to help). I was so nervous I could barely squeak!

I think we had it much easier then though, I certainly wouldn't like to be a learner now
I drove past my old test centre the other day, well I would have if it had still been there :D  Can't believe its been 26 years!! OMG I now feel really old :(

OMG!! You have to know thinking distance, braking distance AND overall stopping distance???? I'd never be able to memorise all that lot! How things have changed in 24 yrs! Still if you get multiple choice answers it might jog your memory. Good luck and I hope you pass when the time comes.

Hi,
I'm using one of those cd roms things too, im ok sometimes but then others im not too great :)
I've started to learn to drive a few times and then stopped due to moving house, OH was in army so moved about alot. I wish I had just carried on and got it done. It seems to get harder each time, either that or I just get worse each time  :)
Think I just need to stick with it and finally get it done.
Thanks for all the advice
Lou

I know it doesn't help much but when you do get past that driving test.
A good rule of thumb that advance driving instructor taught me is
'Only a fool breaks the two second rule'

You steadily say the phrase as the car infront reaches a non-moving landmark,
your car should not reach that landmark before you finish the phrase.
If it does your driving too close to the car infront.
I've done it when driving down the M1 and the chevrons are in the three lanes
you are supposed to leave two chevrons gap between you and the car infront.
I say the phrase above and yes if you keep to the 'two second' rule it is the
2 chevron gap.

The only problem is that hardly anyone seems to leave those decent gaps...
I've lost count of the number of inconsiderate tailgaters that really do want to
be sat on your back seat...or back off the excelerator as yet another car decides to
jump in my safety breaking distance zone