Final answer:
The term you're looking for is 'reaction distance,' which, combined with 'braking distance,' constitutes the 'stopping distance.' This distance depends on multiple factors, including driver reaction time and road conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes how far you will continue to travel after detecting a hazard until you physically hit the brakes is referred to as the driver's reaction distance.
This distance is part of the overall stopping distance, which also includes the braking distance – the distance a vehicle travels from the point when the brakes are applied to when it comes to a complete stop. Together, the reaction distance and the braking distance account for the total stopping distance. Factors affecting these distances include driver reaction time, vehicle speed, vehicle condition, road conditions, and environmental factors.
To determine safety measures, such as how far away a car must be from an obstacle to safely stop, it is critical to understand the reaction distance and the braking distance. Various equations and physical laws govern these distances, including Newton's laws of motion and the friction between the tires and the road surface.