I think a lot of “Fast Drivers” who like to drive fast do not know or realize the increased and enhanced dangers they are facing by traveling 80 miles per hour.
At 80 miles per hour one is moving forward in a mass of metal at 117.33 feet per second. 80 miles per hour = 80 × 1.466666666675 = 117.33 or
117.333333334 feet per second.
A football field is one hundred yards or 360 feet from end zone to end zone. 360 divided by 117.33 is 3.06. So it takes 3.06 seconds to Travel the length of a football field when traveling at 80 miles per hour.
The normal drivers reaction time is 3/4 seconds. So let’s look at what the experts have to say.
Time to Stop Your Car
The table below shows the distances it takes an average car to
come to a stop on dry pavement from different speeds, including the distance traveled for just
one second of perception and reaction time:
Speed | Perception/Reaction Distance | Braking Distance | Overal Stopping Distance | Equal to Approx Number of Car Lengths (@15 feet) |
30 mph | 44 feet | 45 feet | 89 feet | 6 |
40 mph | 59 feet | 80 feet | 139 feet | 9 |
50 mph | 73 feet | 125 feet | 198 feet | 14 |
60 mph | 88 feet | 180 feet | 268 feet | 18 |
70 mph | 103 feet | 245 feet | 348 feet | 23 |
80mph | 117 feet | 320 feet | 439 feet | 29 |
So the experts say if you are traveling 80 miles per hour on a highway and see an obstruction a football field away, you are going to hit it.