Pysäyttämisreaktiot

Pysäyttämisreaktiot, also known as braking reactions or stopping reactions, refer to the series of events that occur from the moment a driver perceives a need to stop until the vehicle actually comes to a complete halt. This process can be broken down into several distinct phases.

The first phase is perception time, which is the time it takes for the driver to recognize and identify a hazard or a reason to brake. This involves visual scanning, processing the information, and understanding its significance. Following perception is reaction time. This is the duration between the driver's decision to brake and the physical action of pressing the brake pedal. This phase is influenced by factors such as driver alertness, alcohol consumption, and fatigue.

Once the brake pedal is depressed, the braking system begins to engage. This is the third phase, known as brake actuation time. It's the interval from the driver applying the brakes to the brake pads making contact with the rotors or drums, initiating the friction that slows the vehicle. Finally, there is the actual braking distance, the physical distance the vehicle travels while the brakes are applied and the vehicle is decelerating to a stop.

The total stopping distance is the sum of the reaction distance (distance traveled during perception and reaction time) and the braking distance. Understanding these components is crucial for road safety, as drivers can influence their reaction and perception times through attentiveness and by maintaining appropriate speeds and following distances, while the braking distance is largely determined by vehicle condition, road surface, and speed.