What three components make up total stopping distance?

Total stopping distance is the complete distance a vehicle travels from the moment a driver first perceives a need to stop until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. This encompasses three critical components: perception distance, reaction distance, and braking distance.

Perception distance is the distance a vehicle travels during the time the driver identifies a hazard and decides to take action. This phase is essential because it represents the initial response time before any physical reaction occurs.

Reaction distance is how far the vehicle travels while the driver is physically reacting to the hazard after realizing it, which includes the time it takes to move a foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal. This component adds to the total distance because even after deciding to stop, a driver still takes a moment to physically act on that decision.

Braking distance is the distance required for the vehicle to come to a stop after the brakes are applied. This distance is influenced by several factors such as the speed of the vehicle, road conditions, and the effectiveness of the braking system.

While the other options may combine various distances and concepts, they do not accurately represent the key phases involved in stopping a vehicle. This is why the combination of perception distance, reaction distance, and braking distance correctly outlines the total stopping distance.