Question

Tests reveal that a normal driver takes about 0.75s before he or she can react to a situation to avoid a collision. It takes about 3s for a driver having 0.1% alcohol in his system to do the same.

If such drivers are traveling on a straight road at 30mph (44 )ft/s and their cars can decelerate at 24ft/s^2 , determine the shortest stopping distance d for normal driver from the moment he or she see the pedestrians.

Also, Determine the shortest stopping distance for drunk driver from the moment he or she see the pedestrians.

Answer 1

NORMAL DRIVER: d = 73.3 ft

DRUNK DRIVER: d = 172.3

Step-by-step explanation:

NORMAL DRIVER:

Distance covered in initial 0.75s = 0.75s *44 = 33ft

USING THE THIRD EQUATION OF MOTION

V^2-U^2 = 2as

0-(44)^2 = 2 (-24) s

s = 1936/48 =40.3 ft

d = 33 + 40.3 = 73.3 ft

DRUNK DRIVER:

Distance covered in initial 3s = 3s *44 = 132 ft

USING THE THIRD EQUATION OF MOTION

V^2-U^2 = 2as

0-(44)^2 = 2 (-24) s

s = 1936/48 =40.3 ft

d = 132 + 40.3 = 172.3 ft