You are driving on a narrow road. About 20 m ahead of you a child suddenly runs onto the roadway. When is a collision unavoidable despite emergency braking?

In this situation, understanding stopping distances and reaction times is crucial, especially in the context of German traffic rules. The speed at which you are traveling directly impacts your ability to stop in time to avoid a collision.

At 50 km/h, the stopping distance dramatically increases due to higher speed, making it very likely that a collision is unavoidable if a child runs onto the road suddenly. The safest speeds to react and stop would be significantly lower, such as 30 km/h or 20 km/h, where reactions and stopping distances are more manageable.

The relevant German traffic rule emphasizes the importance of adjusting speed in relation to visibility, road conditions, and potential hazards, such as children near the road. This is to ensure the safety of all road users, especially vulnerable ones like children. In scenarios like this, it's critical to consider a combination of speeds because a faster speed significantly increases the danger of collision. Therefore, understanding when a speed might create an unavoidable collision is key for safe driving practices.