Question

Which of the following statements about speed management is true?

1) If you double your speed, stopping distance will double.
2) Empty trucks and loaded trucks will have the same stopping distance.
3) If you double your speed, stopping distance will increase by 4 times.

Answer 1

The true statement about speed management is that if you double your speed, the stopping distance will increase by four times, because stopping distance correlates with the square of the speed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about speed management is: 'If you double your speed, stopping distance will increase by 4 times.' This relationship is because stopping distance is not linearly related to speed; it depends on the square of the speed. When the speed doubles, the stopping distance increases by the square of this factor; hence, it becomes four times greater, assuming the same braking force and conditions.

When managing vehicle speed, especially for larger vehicles like trucks, drivers must account for the increased stopping distance required at higher speeds. An empty truck may stop faster than a loaded one due to less inertia, contradicting the statement that empty and loaded trucks have the same stopping distance. Additionally, the total distance the truck covers to stop involves both the distance the driver covers before reacting and hitting the brakes, plus the distance the truck travels during the actual stopping process, which can be influenced by road conditions and the vehicle's load.