Car Stopping Distances

[getaway]

I got caught by a mobile camera van doing 71mph on a dual carriageway with a 60mph limit (used to be unrestricted a few years ago). As we all know (except policemen), speed is relative, and I’m convinced my modern car with its big tyres and brakes would stop from 70 quicker than a ten year old ordinary car would from 60 – meaning in this scenario the safer driver gets the fine.

Does anyone know if the manufacturers publish stopping distances for various cars, and where I might find them, as I’d love to be able to prove my point?

In particular, I’ve got the option to do a Speed Awareness Course for an extra tenner on the fine and not get the three points, so obviously going to take it, and it’d be great to be able to turn up with proof that me doing 71mph in my Jag XJ Sport could stop quicker than their Ford Focus Estate from 60!

(I would have posted this in Speed, Plod and the Law but I wasn’t allowed to for some reason)

[x type]

The Jaguar XJR recorded stopping distances of 118 ft from 62.5 mph to zero in testing. This was up to 14 percent more efficient than key luxury competitors and is another advantage of the XJ's lightweight vehicle architecture.

Don't thhink it will convince them you weren't doing 71 in a 60 limit


http://www.supercars.net/cars/2269.html

[saaby93]

google turns up
http://www.elises.co.uk/diary/2001/august.html
non ABS elise
AutoCar's road test results of 23.8m from 50mph
18.67m from 40mph

Might be worth checking autocar site

[K87]

So you think that the speed limit should be different for everyone because of their car's stopping distances? If you go to the course with this attitude you will come across as an utter cock.

[saaby93]

Better off trying to find out why the DC was 60mph

[PeteG]

K87 said:

So you think that the speed limit should be different for everyone because of their car's stopping distances? If you go to the course with this attitude you will come across as an utter cock.

Just go along, listen, nod politely - you never know, you might learn something.

[chris1roll]

getaway said:

In particular, I’ve got the option to do a Speed Awareness Course for an extra tenner on the fine and not get the three points, so obviously going to take it, and it’d be great to be able to turn up with proof that me doing 71mph in my Jag XJ Sport could stop quicker than their Ford Focus Estate from 60!

If you "cause trouble" on the course they will tell you to leave, still charge you for the course, and give you the points.
Plus you'll make yourself look foolish.

[saaby93]

First needs another type of awareness course ?

[Beyond Rational]

You'll find that a Ford Focus stops in pretty much the same distance as an XJ.

[Graebob]

One might argue that, despite bigger brakes and exceptional performance, the OP still wasn't paying enough attention to spot the mobile detection unit.

My 2p.

[getaway]

K87 said:

So you think that the speed limit should be different for everyone because of their car's stopping distances? If you go to the course with this attitude you will come across as an utter cock.

Not different limits, I'd just like a little common sense applied, and more broadly I'd like the police to target bad drivers rather than those going few mph over the limit on an empty dual carriageway.

[getaway]

Graebob said:

One might argue that, despite bigger brakes and exceptional performance, the OP still wasn't paying enough attention to spot the mobile detection unit.

My 2p.

On this road that van is hidden so you don't see it until it is too late. That said, I use the road regularly and know where it is, what I didn't know was they must be able get you after you have passed the van as I'm sure I approached it around the 60 mark.

As is always the case approaching cameras, people's attention tends to be focused on the speedometer, not the road. I think you can judge a safe reasonable speed for a road, e.g. if you're doing 40 in a residential area you can feel it is too fast without your eyes being glued to the speedo. Doing 70 on a dual carriageway feels very sedate and I think you'd be hard pushed to even notice between 60 and 70.