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:

a SPEED IN AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCES TOTAL STOPPING
b

Avg Driver DISTANCES:
c

Truck Brakes Perception- DRIVER AND
d Miles Feet Automobile Brakes on Reaction Time

e Per Per Brakes All Wheels (1.5 Seconds) Automobiles Trucks
f Hour Second (In Feet) (In Feet) (In Feet) (In Feet) (In Feet)
g 10 14.7 5 6 22 27 28
h 15 22.0 11 14 33 44 47
i 20 29.3 19 25 44 63 69
j 25 36.7 30 40 55 85 95
k 30 44.0 43 57 66 109 123
l 35 51.3 58 78 77 135 155
m 40 58.7 76 102 88 164 190
n 45 66.0 96 129 99 195 228
o 50 73.3 119 159 110 229 269
p 55 80.7 144 192 121 265 313
q 60 88.0 171 229 132 303 361
r 65 95.3 201 268 143 344 411
s 70 102.7 233 311 154 387 465
t 75 110.0 268 357 165 433 522
u 80 117.3 305 406 176 481 582
v 85 124.7 344 459 187 531 646
w 90 132.0 386 514 198 584 712
x 95 139.3 430 573 209 639 782
y 100 146.7 476 635 220 696 855

Terms Used In Virginia Code 46.2-880

  • Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
  • Vehicle: means every device in, on or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a highway, except personal delivery devices and devices moved by human power or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks. See Virginia Code 46.2-100

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.

  Previous section
Next section  
 Article 8 Contents