How Is Brake Performance Affected at Different Speeds?

How Fast Can Your Car Stop?

If you end up in a crisis situation in your car, truck, or SUV, it is essential you are able to bring your vehicle to a stop in the shortest possible distance. It's important to remember that as your speed increases, you will, in turn, increase the amount of force needed to stop your vehicle. In other words, the faster you're moving, the longer distance you will need to come to a complete stop safely.

However, there are several factors involved with determining how your car will be able to come to a complete stop, and routine brake repair is critical to ensuring their functionality.

If you think that your car needs brake repair, come see us at Croce's Transmission today. We are conveniently located in Norwalk, Connecticut, for all of your auto and brake repair needs and look forward to getting you back on the road and where you need to go as soon as possible.

Reaction Time

Reaction times vary from driver to driver, but generally speaking, the response times are usually anywhere between 0.2 seconds and 0.9 seconds. Many factors could affect your reaction time, such as how tired you are and if there are any distractions inside or outside of the vehicle. The longer your response time, the greater your braking distance.

Braking Distance

When you apply pressure to the brakes of your car, friction is produced between the wheel and brakes, causing your vehicle to come to a stop. The faster you are traveling, the more force that will need to be applied to your brake system to stop your vehicle safely. There are a few unique factors that may affect your car's braking distance, including wet or icy roads, weather conditions, and worn tires or brakes.

Stopping Distance

When it comes to general stopping distance, it is crucial you understand how to estimate the stopping distance for your car. Stopping distance may vary between vehicles, but here is a brief look at how much stopping distance is required depending on the speeds of which you are traveling:

A car traveling at 20 miles per hour will generally require a stopping distance of 40 feet.

A car traveling at 40 miles per hour will generally require a stopping distance of 120 feet.

A car traveling at 70 miles per hour will generally require a stopping distance of 300 feet.

Professional Brake Repair in Norwalk, Connecticut

Your car's brakes are critical to your safety, as well as your passengers. If you need professional brake repair, contact Croce's Transmission today to schedule a consultation with one of our professionally trained and accredited brake repair technicians.