Speed and Distance given Acceleration
v = vo + a t
d = vo t + 0.5 a t2
t = time
v = speed at time t
vo = speed when t = 0 a = acceleration (-a for deceleration)
d = distance traveled at time t
Many safety experts use 15 ft/sec2 (0.47 g's) as the maximum deceleration that is safe for the average driver to maintain control, good to excellent tires, dry surface. A reasonably skilled driver can stop at 20 ft/sec2 (0.62 g's). Most production street vehicles have a maximum braking around 0.8 g's.
Maximum Braking for select Vehicles
Productions years 1991 - 1995. Braking to a stop
measured on a dry flat surface starting at 60 mph.
Vehicle g's ft/s2 mph/s
BMW M3 1.0 32.3 22.0
Toyota Celica GT 0.94 30.2 20.6
Lincoln Continental 0.92 29.6 20.2
Nissan Maxima 0.85 27.3 18.6
Chevy Blazer 0.76 24.5 16.7
Dodge Colt GL 0.72 23.2 15.8
