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

The reaction distance is the distance your vehicle travels from the moment you recognize a hazard until you actually begin to brake. The rule of thumb to calculate reaction distance is to take your speed in kilometers per hour, divide it by 10, and then multiply by 3. In this case: 50 km/h ÷ 10 = 5, and 5 × 3 = 15 meters. This accounts for the average reaction time of about 1 second, during which your vehicle continues moving at the same speed before braking starts. Understanding this helps you anticipate stopping distances and drives more safely.