Two quick questions to make you think about your driving habits. It’s been many years for most of us since we had to answer them for a driving test…
Stopping distances...
What's the typical stopping distance for a car travelling at 30mph?
6 car lengths, about 23m. Before most people can react and start hitting the breaks, the car has travelled about 10mA car hitting a pedestrian at 27mph is equivalent to falling out out a 3rd story window. That means a 1 in 5 change of being killed, according to sources on the Brake website
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Try the “Brake” online test/quiz
Kinetic engery
How much more energy does a car travelleing at 30mph have than one at 20mph? 10%, (30-20)/20=50%, or 100%?
A crash at 30mph involves twice as much energy as one at 20mph! So, 100%. Reducing your speed that bit really helps a lot!Have a look at this page to read a bit more
That’s all for now…
Sources
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GCSE Physics topic on Motion of vehicles on BBC BiteSize
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mph\(\rightarrow\)m/sconversion, google can help