If the speed of your vehicle is doubled, how will the braking distance be affected?
- It will be quadrupled ✓
- It will be halved
- It will remain the same
- It will be doubled
Answer: A. It will be quadrupled
If your speed is doubled, the braking distance is quadrupled.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says stopping distance rises faster than speed. It gives the specific example that when speed is doubled, stopping distance increases by four times, and its diagram says double the speed, quadruple your stopping distance. That leads directly to quadrupled braking distance when speed doubles. The passages speak about stopping distance rather than braking distance alone, but the handbook's rule for this speed change is clear.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. It will be halved — Halving would mean a higher speed shortens braking distance, while the handbook says greater speed increases stopping distance.
- C. It will remain the same — Staying the same would mean speed has no effect, but the handbook says stopping distance increases when speed increases.
- D. It will be doubled — Doubling would match the change in speed only, while the handbook says stopping distance rises by four times when speed doubles.
Remember it
Think "speed doubles, distance quadruples" when speed and stopping distance come up together.