2016 Code of Virginia
Title 46.2 - Motor Vehicles
Chapter 8 - Regulation of Traffic
§ 46.2-880. Tables of speed and stopping distances

All courts shall take notice of the following tables of speed and stopping distances of motor vehicles, which shall not raise a presumption, in actions in which inquiry thereon is pertinent to the issues:

SPEED IN	AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCES	TOTAL STOPPING
				Avg Driver	DISTANCES:
			Truck Brakes	Perception-	DRIVER AND
Miles	Feet	Automobile	Brakes on	Reaction Time
Per	Per	Brakes	All Wheels	(1.5 Seconds)	Automobiles	Trucks
Hour	Second	(In Feet)	(In Feet)	(In Feet)	(In Feet)	(In Feet)
10	14.7	5	6	22	27	28
15	22.0	11	14	33	44	47
20	29.3	19	25	44	63	69
25	36.7	30	40	55	85	96
30	44.0	43	57	66	109	123
35	51.3	58	78	77	135	155
40	58.7	76	102	88	164	190
45	66.0	96	129	99	195	228
50	73.3	119	159	110	229	269
55	80.7	144	192	121	265	313
60	88.0	171	229	132	303	361
65	95.3	201	268	143	344	411
70	102.7	233	311	154	387	465
75	110.0	268	357	165	433	522
80	117.3	305	406	176	481	582
85	124.7	344	459	187	531	646
90	132.0	386	514	198	584	712
95	139.3	430	573	209	639	782
100	146.7	476	635	220	696	855

The courts shall further take notice that the above table has been constructed, using scientific reasoning, to provide factfinders with an average baseline for motor vehicle stopping distances: (1) for a vehicle in good condition and (2) on a level, dry stretch of highway, free from loose material.

Deviations from these circumstances do not negate the usefulness of the table, but rather call for additional site-specific examination and/or explanation.

Site-specific research may be utilized under any circumstances.

Code 1950, § 46-212.2; 1956, c. 600; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-195; 1989, c. 727; 2001, c. 145; 2003, c. 277.