You are travelling at 40 km/h. The braking distance for evasive braking is approximately 8 metres. How long is the braking distance at 50 km/h given otherwise the same conditions?

The braking distance increases with speed due to the physics of motion. At a speed of 40 km/h, the braking distance is 8 meters. When you increase your speed to 50 km/h, the braking distance increases significantly.

Braking distance can be calculated using the formula: Braking distance = (speed squared) / (2 * braking deceleration). The braking deceleration remains relatively constant under standard conditions, which means that as the speed increases, the distance required to come to a stop also increases exponentially, not linearly.

Based on standard values, at 50 km/h, the braking distance is approximately 12.5 meters. This is important to understand for safe driving and following German traffic regulations, which emphasize maintaining a safe distance to react appropriately to potential hazards.

Understanding these distances helps drivers to make informed decisions while driving and enhances road safety by preventing accidents.