Reaction Distance Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate the Reaction Distance (Dreact) is:

\[ \text{Dreact} = \frac{S \cdot 5280}{3600} \cdot \frac{T}{1000} \]

Where:

\( \text{Dreact} \) is the Reaction Distance (ft)
\( S \) is the Speed (mph)
\( T \) is the Reaction Time (ms)

Reaction Distance Definition

Reaction distance is the distance a vehicle travels from the moment a driver perceives a need to stop until the driver actually begins to apply the brakes. It depends on the speed of the vehicle and the driver's reaction time.

Example Calculation

Let's consider an example:

Speed (S): 60 mph
Reaction Time (T): 500 ms

Using the formula to calculate the Reaction Distance:

\[ \text{Dreact} = \frac{60 \cdot 5280}{3600} \cdot \frac{500}{1000} \approx 44 \, \text{ft} \]

This demonstrates that with a speed of 60 mph and a reaction time of 500 ms, the reaction distance would be approximately 44 feet.