Question

In order to pass another car safely, at speeds of 45 mph:

A) You need at least 1/3 of a mile of clear visibility.
B) You need at most 1/3 of a mile of clear visibility.
C) You need at least 1/2 of a mile of clear visibility.
D) None of the above

Answer 1

To pass another car safely at speeds of 45 mph, you need to consider the distance at which the eye can resolve the car's headlights and the minimum safe distance to cross a road.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the given information, the maximum distance at which the eye can resolve two headlights that are 1.3 meters apart is determined by the practical limit for the eye. This practical limit is the distance at which the two points can still be distinguished as separate. The practical limit is calculated using the distance between two points held at arm's length, which is 0.8 meters in this case.

To cross a road safely, a person should be able to walk at least 2 meters further than the width of a car before the car reaches them. Therefore, to determine if it is safe to cross a road when a car is approaching, the person should calculate the distance the car is from them. If the distance is greater than the minimum safe distance calculated, it is safe to cross.