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?

When calculating reaction distance while driving, it's crucial to consider both your speed and your reaction time. At a speed of 50 km/h, a typical reaction time is about 1 second. The formula commonly used is: reaction distance = speed (in m/s) x reaction time (in seconds).

First, convert speed from km/h to m/s by dividing by 3.6, which gives approximately 14 m/s at 50 km/h. When you multiply this by the reaction time of 1 second, you get a reaction distance of about 14 meters.

However, the standard rule of thumb often rounds this up to 15 meters to account for various factors such as individual variability in reaction times and conditions that may affect driving. Understanding these calculations is vital according to German traffic regulations, as it ensures drivers maintain safe distances, contributing to overall road safety and accident prevention.

In summary, knowing both the calculation method and the practical applications of those numbers helps drivers to make informed decisions during driving scenarios.