You increase your speed from 50 km/h to 100 km/h. How is the braking distance changed according to the rule of thumb?

When you increase your speed, the braking distance does not just double—it increases with the square of the speed. According to the German rule of thumb, if you double your speed from 50 km/h to 100 km/h, the braking distance becomes four times as long. For example, if it was 25 meters at 50 km/h, it becomes 100 meters at 100 km/h. This is because braking distance is calculated by squaring the speed and then dividing by ten (for dry roads). So, correct understanding of this relationship helps you estimate how long it takes to stop at different speeds, which is crucial for safe driving and maintaining a proper distance from other vehicles.