What is the stopping distance for a vehicle traveling at 20mph?
Answer: B — 40 ft
The stopping distance for a vehicle traveling at 20mph is approximately 40 feet. This distance includes several components: the thinking distance and the braking distance. At this speed, a driver typically takes about 12 feet to react (thinking distance) and around 28 feet to come to a complete stop after applying the brakes (braking distance), which totals around 40 feet. Understanding stopping distances is crucial for safe driving as it helps drivers maintain appropriate distances from vehicles in front of them, ensuring they can react effectively to sudden stops or emergencies.