What is the average braking reaction time?

I just started a new medication that came with a warning to not operate heavy machinery. I asked my doctor about this, and she said this medicine could possibly slow my reaction time when driving. What is the average reaction time of a person driving?

I hope your medication gets you back to feeling your best! Reaction time is the time it takes to respond by moving your foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal. This can vary greatly from person to person, but the average reaction time usually falls around 0.75 seconds. Reaction time is just one part of the equation in determining how long it takes to stop your car.

In addition to reaction time, there’s also perception time (how long it takes to realize you need to stop) and braking time (how long it takes your car to stop after braking). All of these combine to equal the total stopping time.

Other than obvious weather and road conditions, there are quite a few factors that affect your reaction time:

Age
Vision
Decision-making ability
Alertness
Substances, like drugs, alcohol, or medications

To improve reaction times, or manage slower reaction times, there are a few tips you can follow:

Increase the distance between your car and the vehicle ahead of you.
Minimize your left turns (unless there’s a designated left turning lane).
Remove all distractions in your car, and avoid adjusting the radio or using your phone.
Plan your exact route before heading out—no last-minute decisions.
Avoid areas and times of congestion or heavy traffic.
Discuss your medications with your doctor to note any that cause drowsiness or blurred vision.

Your total stopping time is also determined by the condition of your vehicle’s tires and brakes, so make sure you’re getting those checked and serviced regularly.

It’s no secret that slow reaction times cause accidents, so it’s important that you’re always protected with great car insurance. When you use the Jerry app, you can find the cheapest deals for the best coverage—with some of the top companies, too! Average Jerry users save $887 a year on car insurance premiums.

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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Return to Driving After Foot and Ankle Surgery: A Novel Survey to Predict Passing Brake Reaction Time.

McDonald EL, Shakked R, Nicholson K, Daniel JN, Pedowitz DI, Winters BS, Rogero R, Raikin SM. McDonald EL, et al. Foot Ankle Spec. 2021 Feb;14(1):32-38. doi: 10.1177/1938640019890970. Epub 2020 Jan 6. Foot Ankle Spec. 2021. PMID: 31904291

The simple truth about speeding is: the faster you go, the longer it takes to stop and, if you crash, the harder the impact. Even small increases in speed could have severe consequences. If a pedestrian steps out into the path of an oncoming vehicle which is speeding the difference could be a matter of life or death.

[Speaking - Professor Barry Watson Direct CARRS-Q, QUT]

The simple truth about speeding is that the faster you go the longer it takes to stop.

Here’s a comparison.

This is a car travelling at 60km/h and braking suddenly.

Here’s the same car, travelling at 67km/h and braking at the exact same point.

This time the car hits, still travelling at 30km/hr. The difference could be a matter of life or death.

In an emergency, the average driver takes about 1.5 seconds to react. Stopping distances increase exponentially the faster you go.

You can also access this infographic information in text form.

The stopping distances on the infograph are calculated based on the following assumptions:

In an emergency the average driver takes approximately 1.5 seconds to react
A modern vehicle with good brakes and tyres, after braking, is capable of stopping at approximately 7 m/s2.
A dry road that is sealed and level enables good friction between the tyres and the road to help stop the vehicle sooner. Scientifically, it has a coefficient of friction of approximately 1.
A wet road that is sealed and level has less friction between the tyres and the road which increases the stopping distance of a vehicle. Scientifically, the coefficient of friction of approximately 0.7.

The stopping distances in the graph are generic and may be influenced by a number of driver, vehicle and environmental factors:

Driver factors	Vehicle factors	Environmental factors

	Type and condition of brakes
Impairment due to alcohol and drugs	Type and condition of tyres, including tyre pressure
	Safety features fitted to the vehicle for example ABS, ESC, EBA, etc.
Driver age and experience
Hazard perception ability	Towing a trailer or carrying a heavy load