Approximately how many feet does a car traveling at 20 mph take to stop once the brakes are applied?

When a car is traveling at 20 mph, it takes approximately 63 feet to come to a complete stop after the brakes are applied. This distance is influenced by various factors, including the vehicle's speed, road conditions, and brake efficiency.

At 20 mph, the stopping distance consists of two components: the perception-reaction distance and the braking distance. The perception-reaction distance is the time taken for a driver to react to a situation and apply the brakes, while the braking distance is the distance the vehicle travels while coming to a stop after the brakes are applied.

In most calculations, the braking distance for a vehicle traveling at 20 mph averages around 20 to 25 feet, but when you include the perception-reaction distance, which is generally estimated based on average reaction times, the total can rise to approximately 63 feet. This metric is important for drivers to understand as it helps them make safer stopping decisions, especially in different driving conditions.

Understanding the physics behind stopping distances at various speeds can greatly enhance a driver's ability to anticipate and react to changing traffic scenarios, leading to safer driving practices.