Related Products
Related Links
Many people significantly underestimate the distance it takes for their car to come to a complete stop when braking in an emergency. If you drive an old car, the stopping distance may be greater than you think.
We've tested old (over 20 years) and new (under 5 years) sedans and SUVs to see how quickly they stopped in an emergency braking situation. The cars were tested at various speeds on wet and dry roads.
Stopping distance test results
| 1979 Holden Kingswood | 2004 Holden Commodore VZ | 1984 SWB Toyota Landcruiser | 2004 Toyota Landcruiser V8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 km/h dry | 15.6 | 12.6 | 18.0 | 12.6 |
| 50 km/h wet | 17.8 | 15.8 | 20.2 | 17.1 |
| 60 km/h dry | 20.8 | 16.8 | 24.4 | 15.8 |
| 60 km/h wet | 22.5 | 19.1 | 34.9 | 21.6 |
| 110 km/h dry | 65.7 | 51.5 | 87.8 ^ | 55.1 |
| 110 km/h wet | 93.6 | 63.3 | 104.9 ^ | 67.4 |
Figures indicate average stopping distance in metres
^ Estimated stopping distance (calculated using speeds of 95km/h and 100km/h)
Did you know?
- Driving at 110km/h on a dry road, a 2004 Holden Commodore will take 51.5 metres to come to a stop. That's longer than an Olympic sized swimming pool
- A key factor in speeding-related crashes is that most motorists underestimate the distance needed to stop*
- The risk of causing death or injury in an urban 60 km/h zone increases rapidly with relatively small increases in speed. The accident risk at 65 km/h is about twice the risk at 60 km/h. At 70 km/h, the accident risk is more than four times the risk than at 60 km/h*
* Roads & Traffic Authority, NSW