A car traveling 60 mph will require approximately how many feet of stopping distance?

To determine the stopping distance for a car traveling at 60 mph, it's essential to consider both the reaction distance and the braking distance. The reaction distance is the distance a vehicle travels during the driver's reaction time, while the braking distance is the distance it takes for the car to come to a complete stop once the brakes are applied.

At 60 mph, the vehicle covers 88 feet per second. Assuming an average reaction time of about 1.5 seconds, the reaction distance alone would be approximately 132 feet (60 mph x 1.5 seconds).

The braking distance at this speed can be estimated using a general rule of thumb, which suggests that for every 10 mph, the braking distance is roughly 20-30 feet on dry pavement. For 60 mph, this would translate to an additional braking distance of approximately 120 feet. When you combine both the reaction distance and the braking distance, it totals around 252 feet.

While the precise calculation might vary slightly depending on the conditions (road surface, vehicle type, and other factors), the stopping distance of about 200 feet for a car traveling at 60 mph provides a practical reference in driving scenarios and is the closest estimation in the choices provided.