4.5. Braking performance

Try these first

1. 1.

   What does braking distance refer to?

   Hint

   Consider what happens when you press the brakes.

2. 2.

   What is the stopping sight distance?

   Hint

   Think about how much space is needed to react and stop.

3. 3.

   What do the terms 'initial speed' and 'final speed' represent in the braking distance formula?

   • Speed after braking
   • Speed before braking
   • Both

   Hint

   Think about what happens before pressing the brakes.

4. 4.

   True or False: A higher coefficient of friction results in a longer stopping distance.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider how tire grip affects stopping ability.

5. 5.

   A bus traveling at 15 m/s suddenly needs to stop on a wet road with a coefficient of friction of 0.3. Calculate the braking distance. Assume that the bus should stop completely.

   Hint

   Substitute the values accurately into the distance equation.

6. 6.

   Design a traffic signal timing plan for an intersection where average vehicle speeds are 20 m/s. Consider that the vehicles require a stopping sight distance of 60 meters.

   Hint

   Factor in extra time to account for driver reaction time.