How does the speed of 45 mph affect stopping distance?

When a vehicle is traveling at a higher speed, such as 45 mph, the stopping distance increases due to several factors related to physics and reaction time. Stopping distance is made up of two main components: the perception and reaction distance, and the braking distance.

At higher speeds, the driver has less time to react to hazards, which extends the perception and reaction time. Furthermore, the faster a vehicle is traveling, the longer it takes to come to a complete stop once the brakes are applied. This is due to the fact that kinetic energy increases with the square of the speed; thus, more energy is required to slow down and stop the vehicle as speed increases.

Therefore, when driving at 45 mph, a school bus driver must account for an increased stopping distance to ensure the safety of the children on board and others on the road. This understanding is crucial for making safe driving decisions, especially in school zones or areas with pedestrian traffic.