BENDIX BW2769 manual Calculating Following Distance, 80.7 x 3 Sec. = 242.1 Feet

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Following Distance

Calculating Following Distance

One of the safest habits any driver can perform while operating a motor vehicle is maintaining a minimum following distance from the other vehicles. Most commercial vehicles traveling at a highway speed of 55 MPH require a minimum of 200 feet or more to bring the vehicle to a complete stop on dry pavement. Conditions like heavy loads, slippery roads, and worn tire tread can drastically increase a vehicle’s stopping distance.

There are many factors that affect how quickly a driver can react to slowing or stopping a vehicle. Every situation requires the driver’s best judgment. One driving method that has been proven to reduce the likelihood of a front-end collision is maintaining a following distance of no closer than three seconds.

Following distance is based on the speed of travel and the time to reach the vehicle ahead should that vehicle come to a stop. You can use the formula below to calculate following distance by first converting road speed to feet per second.

55MPH = 290,400 Feet per Hour [5,280 x 55]

290,400 / 3,600 = 80.7 Feet per Second

Using the example above, a vehicle traveling 55 MPH would need to maintain a minimum gap of approximately 242 feet from the vehicle ahead to maintain a three-second following distance.

80.7 x 3 Sec. = 242.1 Feet

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