You double the speed at which you are travelling. How does this affect the braking distance?

In German traffic rules, the braking distance increases with the square of the speed. This means if you double your speed, the braking distance becomes four times longer. For example, if you originally travel at 50 km/h and double to 100 km/h, your braking distance will not just double but multiply by four. This happens because kinetic energy, which the brakes need to dissipate to stop the vehicle, increases with the square of the speed. Understanding this helps drivers maintain safe speeds and distances, especially in hazardous conditions.