18-Wheeler Stopping Distances - Bennett Hodgins Law

Large trucks take much longer to stop than a car. Under ideal conditions, it takes an average passenger vehicle traveling at 65 mph 316 feet to come to a complete stop. A 40-ton truck going at the same pace, on the other hand, needs 525 feet to come to a complete stop. Large trucks must also contend with brake lag. Because of the way air brakes function, there is a delay between when the driver presses the brake and when the brakes are applied. This means that 18-wheelers will need considerably more stopping distance. So preserve your distance and save your family from an 18-wheeler accident.