THE STOPPING

SIGHT
DISTANCE
The stopping sight distance is the longest distance
that a driver could see the top of an object 15 cm
above the road surface where the design height of
the drivers’ eyes above the pavement is 1.05
meters.
Stopping sight distance method is made up of
two elements, namely:
1. The distance travelled after the obstruction or
object is seen and before the driver applies the
brakes.
2. The second distance is consumed while the
driver apply the brakes for vehicle to stop. The
distance covered could be expressed by the
following formula.
Detection, recognition, decision and response-
initiation distance
𝒅 = 𝒕𝒎/𝒔
 𝒎
( 𝒔 )𝟐
Breaking distance 𝒅 =
𝟐 𝒈𝒎𝒇
𝒎
( 𝒔 )𝟐
𝒅=
𝟏𝟗.𝟔𝒇
Where: m/s = Initial speed, in meter per second
t = Detection, recognition, decision and
response initiation (break reaction
time)
gm = Acceleration of gravity, 9.80 m/s2
f = Coefficient of friction between tire and
pavement
The formula assumes that the highway level is flat. If
the car is traveling uphill, braking distance is
decreased, and for downhill, breaking distance is
increased. The breaking distance on slope is
expressed by the following formula:

𝒎
( 𝒔 )𝟐
Breaking distance (m) 𝒅 =
𝟏𝟗.𝟖 (𝒇+𝒈)
Where: g = Longitudinal slope of the roadway or %
grade/100
Uphill grade is positive (+)
Downhill grade is negative (-)
 TABLE 2-5 MINIMUM STOPPING SIGHT
DISTANCES ( WET PAVEMENT)

BREAK REACTION STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE

DESIGN ASSUMED SPEED COEFFICIEN
SPEED (Km. FOR CONDITION Time T OF
PH) (Km. PH) Distance FRICTION f Computed (m) Rounded for
(Secon
(Meter) Design (m)
d)
30 30 - 30 2.5 22 - 22 0.4 31.80 - 31.80 36 - 36
45 40 -45 2.5 32 - 33 0.35 53.40 - 58.80 60 - 60
60 55 -60 2.5 40 - 44 0.32 80.10 - 94.20 82 - 97
75 65 - 75 2.5 48 - 55 0.3 112.80 - 138.30 112 - 142

90 80 - 90 2.5 57 - 66 0.29 150.16 - 190.20 157 - 195

100 85 - 95 2.5 61 - 71 0.29 165.00 - 217.20 165 - 217

105 90 - 100 2.5 64 - 77 0.28 183.90 - 252.00 187 - 255

110 90 - 110 2.5 67 - 83 0.28 200.10 - 283.00 202 - 285

120 95 - 120 2.5 71 - 88 0.27 222.30 - 324.90 225 - 330

Example:
While descending a -7% grade at a speed of 90
km/h, George notices a large object in the roadway
ahead of him. Without thinking about any
alternatives, George stabs his brakes and begins to
slow down. Assuming that George is so paralyzed
with fear that he won't engage in an avoidance
maneuver, calculate the minimum distance at which
George must have seen the object in order to avoid
colliding with it. You can assume that the roadway
surface is concrete and that the surface is wet. You
can also assume that George has a brake reaction
time of 0.9 seconds because he is always alert on
this stretch of the road.
The distance that George travelled during his break
reaction time:
𝒅 = 𝒗𝒕 = 0.9 (25) = 22.5 m
The distance that George will travel while breaking:
𝒗𝟐
𝒅=
𝟏𝟗. 𝟔 (𝒇 + 𝒈)
Where: v = George’s velocity, 25 m/s (90 km/hr)
f = Coefficient of friction, 0.29 (from the
table)
g = The grade of the road, -0.07 (-7%)
 𝒗𝟐 (𝟐𝟓 𝒎/𝒔)𝟐
𝒅= = = 144.94 m = 145 m
𝟏𝟗.𝟔 (𝒇+𝒈) 𝟏𝟗.𝟔 (𝟎.𝟐𝟗 −𝟎.𝟎𝟕)
Total stopping distance = 145 + 22.5 = 167.5 m

Summing the distance traveled while braking and

the distance traveled during the brake reaction time
yields a total stopping sight distance of 167.5
meters. George needed to be about 167.5 meters
away from the object at the instant he first saw it in
order to avoid a collision.