What is the distance your car travels after you apply the brakes?

The correct answer is braking distance, which refers specifically to the distance your vehicle travels from the moment you apply the brakes until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. This distance is influenced by several factors, including the speed of the vehicle, the condition of the brakes, the road surface, and the weight of the vehicle. Understanding braking distance is crucial for safe driving, as it helps drivers anticipate how much space they will need to stop safely in various conditions.

Stopping distance is a broader term that encompasses both braking distance and the distance traveled during the driver's reaction time before the brakes are applied. Reaction distance is the distance covered while the driver is processing information and deciding to apply the brakes, and perception time refers to the time it takes for the driver to notice a hazard and begin to react. Thus, while those terms are related, braking distance specifically measures just the distance traveled after the brakes are engaged.