What is stopping distance? Stopping distance is the time that it takes to bring a moving car to a complete stop. This includes the time it takes you to react to the hazard (thinking distance), and the time it takes for the brakes to stop the car (braking distance) You can calculate it with this stopping distance formula: Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance When driving, you should leave enough clear distance in front of you to be able to come to a stop. This is in case the traffic suddenly slows down, causing you to brake. We can achieve this by following the 2 second rule However, stopping distances vary depending on factors like the weather and your driving speed. Stopping distances Stopping distances include the distance travelled while the driver notices a hazard and applies the brakes (thinking distance), and while the vehicle comes to a full stop from its initial speed (braking distance). The government's official estimates ...