stopping distance

American  

[stahp-ing dis-tuhns] / ˈstɑp ɪŋ ˌdɪs təns /

noun

plural

stopping distances

1. the distance that a car travels from the time the driver decides to brake until the car comes to a complete stop.

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Example Sentences

They advised drivers to "slow down and increase your stopping distance from the vehicle in front. Exercise caution, even on short journeys in well-lit areas".

From BBC • Oct. 3, 2025

Your car needs two to three times more stopping distance on wet pavement.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2023

In objective testing, Edmunds.com found the Rivian set lofty new pickup records for stopping distance, acceleration and road-holding grip.

From New York Times • Nov. 25, 2021

Research from AAA found that treads worn to just 4/32” led to “an average increased stopping distance of 87 feet for a passenger car and 86 feet for a light truck.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2021

With the overlap system, however, a train may stop at any point in a block section and still have the home signal at a safe stopping distance in the rear of the train.

From The New York Subway Its Construction and Equipment by Anonymous