What is the maximum speed you should be traveling to stop safely if a child runs into the street 60 to 65 feet ahead of your vehicle?

To determine the maximum speed at which you should be traveling to stop safely if a child suddenly runs into the street, it's essential to consider the time and distance needed to react and bring your vehicle to a halt.

At 20 mph, a vehicle can typically stop within a reasonable distance, taking into account both reaction time and braking distance. A driver’s reaction time is about 1.5 seconds, during which the vehicle will continue to travel forward. At 20 mph, the vehicle covers approximately 29 feet in that time (since 20 mph is roughly 29 feet per second). After that initial reaction, the braking distance can be added.

When combining the reaction distance and the stopping distance at 20 mph, the total distance traveled before coming to a complete stop is manageable within the 60 to 65 feet range. Therefore, maintaining a speed of 20 mph allows for a safe stop should a child unexpectedly enter the roadway.

In contrast, traveling at speeds higher than 20 mph, such as 30 or 40 mph, significantly increases both the stopping distance and reaction distance, making it unlikely to stop in time to avoid an accident if a child suddenly appears. Thus, a speed of 20 mph strikes a balance that aligns