Final answer:
Motorists should ensure their vehicle can stop within the distance illuminated by the headlights, considering driver reaction time, vehicle speed, and road conditions. The required stopping distance is the sum of the reaction distance and braking distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
When driving at night, a motorist should always be sure that the vehicle can stop within the visible distance provided by the headlights. The stopping distance depends on several factors, such as the driver reaction time, vehicle speed, and road conditions. It's critical for safety to be able to stop the vehicle within the distance illuminated by the headlights to avoid collisions.
The stopping distance is a sum of the distance covered during the driver's reaction time and the distance needed to bring the vehicle to a complete stop once the brakes are applied. Good practice dictates that the stopping distance should be shorter than the range of the vehicle's headlights to ensure that any obstacles can be seen and reacted to in time. Remember, always adjust your driving speed and following distance based on the visibility and road conditions, especially in adverse weather conditions.
For example, if a car is initially traveling at 30.0 m/s and the driver has a reaction time of 0.500 s, you need to calculate the distance traveled during this reaction time before the brakes are even applied and then add to it the braking distance, which varies between dry and wet pavement. This calculation helps ensure a safe stopping distance under varying conditions.