You are travelling at 50 km/h, have a reaction time of 1 second, and brake normally. What is the stopping distance according to the rule of thumb?

The stopping distance in German traffic rules is the sum of the reaction distance and the braking distance. At 50 km/h, the reaction distance is calculated by multiplying the speed (in meters per second) by the reaction time. Since 50 km/h is about 14 meters per second, and with a reaction time of 1 second, the reaction distance is approximately 14 meters. The braking distance at 50 km/h is roughly 26 meters under normal conditions. Adding these together gives a total stopping distance of about 40 meters. This rule of thumb helps drivers estimate how much space they need to come to a complete stop safely.