How many feet do you need for every second, in order to stop safely?

To determine how many feet are needed to stop safely for each second of speed, it's understood in driving that a general rule of thumb is to estimate that you need approximately 10 feet of stopping distance for every mile per hour of speed. This means that for a vehicle traveling at 10 miles per hour, you would need about 10 feet to stop in one second.

However, if we consider stopping distances in terms of safety, a better approximation is that you may need more than just the distance related to that speed directly. That's why the answer of 10 feet aligns well with the common assumptions around safe stopping distance.

When considering safer practices, calculating stopping distances can be influenced by conditions such as the weight of the vehicle, road conditions, and driver reaction times. Therefore, the option of needing 10 feet for every second reflects a balanced approach to estimating stopping distances while also accommodating for varied conditions that might be faced on the road.

In practical terms, many driving instructors and safety manuals often reinforce the importance of at least keeping this distance in mind, especially in more congested or unpredictable driving environments.