Driving lessons in Edinburgh: Stopping Distances

One of the first thing that we teach here is to understand and response stopping distances.

To pass both your driving test and your driving theory test, you must be aware of stopping distances.

The quicker you drive and the wetter the road, the greater the stopping distance. Additionally, it takes some time to comprehend the situation before braking. Bad weather conditions also have an influence on this, so it is best to give it a bit more when the road is wet of visibility is reduced – something we experience very often here in Edinburgh.

You can pass your driving test and stay safe on the roads long after by calculating stopping distances – so it is vital to learn how to calculate them as soon as you start taking driving lessons.

Starting with 20mph, multiply the speed intervals by 2 to give the safe stopping distance in feet. For each additional 10mph, increase the multiplication by 0.5 to provide the appropriate stopping distance:

• 20 mph x 2 = 40 feet (12 metres)
• 30 mph x 2.5 = 75 feet (23 metres)
• 40 mph x 3 = 118 feet (36 metres)
• 50 mph x 3.5 = 175 feet (53 metres)
• 60 mph x 4 = 240 feet (73 metres)
• 70 mph x 4.5 = 315 feet (96 metres)

A lot of pupils fail their driving test because they fail to respect the correct distances. So it is well worth making sure you make it second nature to judge the correct distance. And of course understanding the above is not just to pass your driving test: it is vital for being able to drive safely and avoid accidents.

Expect to learn more during your first driving lesson with Driving Lessons Edinburgh!