iFahrer – Driver’s License

The reaction distance is the distance your vehicle travels from the moment you recognize a hazard until you start braking. It depends on your speed and your reaction time. A common rule of thumb in Germany is that the reaction distance (in meters) can be estimated by multiplying your speed (in km/h) by 3, then dividing by 10, assuming a reaction time of about 1 second. At 50 km/h, this equals approximately 15 meters (50 km/h × 3 ÷ 10 = 15 m). This helps drivers quickly estimate how far they will travel before they can react, which is important for safe driving and maintaining sufficient following distance.