Final answer:
You should never drive faster at night than your ability to stop within the range of your headlights for safety. The stopping distance is determined by the reaction time and braking distance, which is influenced by speed and road conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
At night, you should never drive at a speed which would prevent you from coming to a stop within the distance you can see with your headlights. This precaution is to ensure safety and allow you to react to unexpected obstacles or changes in the driving conditions. The concept of not driving faster than your headlight range is part of defensive driving techniques and is important for preventing accidents.
It is crucial to know several factors to determine safe stopping distances:
- The distance the driver covers before reacting and hitting the brakes (reaction time).
- The stopping distance once the brakes are applied, which can vary based on road conditions and vehicle speed.
- The total stopping distance, combining reaction distance and braking distance.
The stopping distance can be calculated using the following formula: stopping distance = reaction distance + braking distance. Reaction distance is the speed of the car (in meters per second) multiplied by the driver's reaction time (in seconds). Braking distance depends on the initial speed and the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road surface.