Braking Distances

[Jim]

Can someone tell me if they have changed the braking distances in the highway code in recent years.

Are the distances in the code the same now as they were for my Hillman Hunter with naff brakes back in 1974, Compared to today's modern servo assisted computer controlled brakes which can stop much shorter and in a straight line.

Thanks

 

[ourcampersbeentrashed]

Hi Jim

Certainly up to last year - sorry havent got a newer highway code, the braking distances had not changed since you took your test apart from converting them from feet into metric.

The Highway Code : Directgov - Travel and transport

You may find the above link helpful kind regards

 

[JayDee]

Latest

Dunno Jim, but here's the relevant page from the 2007 Highway Code.

 

[ourcampersbeentrashed]

Go to the bottom of this page and click on the adobe download for the current typical braking distance information, sorry I couldnt cut and paste it


117-126: Control of the vehicle : Directgov - Travel and transport

 

[pappajohn]

nope!!!!

still the same as before.
i took my bike test in 1973/4 and they were the same then as now.
todays cars will probably stop, from 70mph, in the same distance it took at 40mph back then. oh:
but the thinking distance will not be any different now just the actual braking distance.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[GJH]

(snip)
but the thinking distance will not be any different now just the actual braking distance.

Very good point John - and, unfortunately, with some drivers the "lack of thinking" distance will still be the same.

Graham

 

[Jim]

That's what I thought John, no change. Thanks

nope!!!!

still the same as before.
i took my bike test in 1973/4 and they were the same then as now.
todays cars will probably stop, from 70mph, in the same distance it took at 40mph back then. oh:
but the thinking distance will not be any different now just the actual braking distance.

 

[oldun]

Very good point John - and, unfortunately, with some drivers the "lack of thinking" distance will still be the same.

Graham

Withe advent of ipods, mobile phones, DVD players etc the thinking distance will be in some cases about 10 times as long.

 

[Road Runner]

Jim bet your Hillman Hunter could still out brake my RVoh:

 

[TJ-RV]

Well I'll be darned, another HH owner. My first car when I reluctantly sold my last motorbike. It used to stop on a sixpence, if I braked far enough ahead.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jim]

This is like the one I owned, 1725 Alloy head, loved that car

Link Removed

 

[Road Runner]

Well I'll be darned, another HH owner. My first car when I reluctantly sold my last motorbike. It used to stop on a sixpence, if I braked far enough ahead.

Blimey it's the Proclaimers

 

[TJ-RV]

Ah, Jim, you had the luxury model. I recall paying 25 quid for my HH 'estate car', second hand of course. When the sills and the bottom door panels rusted out, I was fortunate to be working at the steel plant. Walked over to the reclamation bay, cut and bent what I needed from galvanised steel sheet, got out the rivet gun, and voilla! Eventually sold the car back to the guy I bought it from.

I also recall someone making the comment "those plates are worth a few quid", but I had no idea there as a market for number plates with 'significant' letters and low numbers. The letters happened to be the first initials of the previous owner's 3 daughters, so presumably he bought the car back for the plates.