How many meters does it take to brake from a speed of 120 km/h?
2 Answers
At a speed of 120 km/h, it takes approximately 45 meters to come to a complete stop with emergency braking. Here is some extended information: 1. The braking distance varies among different vehicle models, generally around 60 meters, sometimes more. Therefore, it is advisable to maintain a distance of over 200 meters from the vehicle ahead on highways. 2. For speeds exceeding 200 km/h, the emergency braking distance depends on the vehicle type, model, and braking system. 3. With an ABS system installed, the braking distance for a car traveling at 120 km/h during emergency braking is 100-120 meters (the braking distance is also related to the number of passengers in the car). 4: When the car's wheels lock up during braking, the braking distance is not related to the vehicle's mass. However, in real-life situations, the more cargo a vehicle carries, the longer the braking distance tends to be.
I think braking at 120 kilometers per hour is not just a simple number game. From the physics of automobiles, braking distance mainly depends on speed, deceleration rate, road conditions, etc. A speed of 120 kilometers per hour converts to about 33 meters per second. The standard deceleration rate on dry roads is approximately 7 meters per second squared, so the pure braking distance is at least 50 to 70 meters. But don't forget your reaction time—on average, it takes 1 to 1.5 seconds to hit the brakes, during which the car travels another 30 to 50 meters, bringing the total distance often beyond 80 to 100 meters. What's more troublesome is the many variables: worn tires can affect grip, and wet roads in rainy conditions can double the distance to over 150 meters; vehicle weight is also critical, as a fully loaded SUV can require dozens of meters more than a sedan. That's why I frequently check my braking system, especially testing tire pressure during seasonal changes to ensure performance isn't compromised. When driving at high speeds, it's essential to maintain a safe following distance—using the two-second rule as a guideline, leaving at least 200 meters of buffer space to ensure emergency braking doesn't lead to accidents.
