Safe stopping distance demonstrations

How long does it really take for a car to stop?

Basic physics says the faster you drive the greater distance it takes to stop

Safe stopping distance demonstrations are held every two years around the district.

The demonstrations are a road safety campaign to show how long it takes for a car to stop when travelling at different speeds.

A trained driver shows the distance it takes to stop at various speeds. The key messages are:

  • Speed is a contributing factor in 20% of all fatal and serious injury crashes on New Zealand roads.
  • Each year, around 80 people are killed and 400 are seriously injured in speed-related crashes in New Zealand.
  • At speed, there is less opportunity for a driver to react to a mistake and recover.
  • We usually get to learn from our mistakes; but not when driving - the road is an exception. Even the smallest of mistakes on the road can cost us our life, or someone else's.

Want to arrange a demonstration?

For further information on these demonstrations contact the Road Safety Officer

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