Va. Code § 46.2-880

Current with changes from the 2024 legislative session through ch. 845
Section 46.2-880 - Tables of speed and stopping distances

All courts shall take notice of the following tables of speed and stopping distances of motor vehicles, which shall not raise a presumption, in actions in which inquiry thereon is pertinent to the issues:

a

SPEED IN

AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCES

TOTAL STOPPING

b

Avg Driver

DISTANCES:

c

Truck Brakes

Perception-

DRIVER AND

d

Miles

Feet

Automobile

Brakes on

Reaction Time

e

Per

Per

Brakes

All Wheels

(1.5 Seconds)

Automobiles

Trucks

f

Hour

Second

(In Feet)

(In Feet)

(In Feet)

(In Feet)

(In Feet)

g

10

14.7

5

6

22

27

28

h

15

22.0

11

14

33

44

47

i

20

29.3

19

25

44

63

69

j

25

36.7

30

40

55

85

95

k

30

44.0

43

57

66

109

123

l

35

51.3

58

78

77

135

155

m

40

58.7

76

102

88

164

190

n

45

66.0

96

129

99

195

228

o

50

73.3

119

159

110

229

269

p

55

80.7

144

192

121

265

313

q

60

88.0

171

229

132

303

361

r

65

95.3

201

268

143

344

411

s

70

102.7

233

311

154

387

465

t

75

110.0

268

357

165

433

522

u

80

117.3

305

406

176

481

582

v

85

124.7

344

459

187

531

646

w

90

132.0

386

514

198

584

712

x

95

139.3

430

573

209

639

782

y

100

146.7

476

635

220

696

855

The courts shall further take notice that the above table has been constructed, using scientific reasoning, to provide factfinders with an average baseline for motor vehicle stopping distances:

(1) for a vehicle in good condition and
(2) on a level, dry stretch of highway, free from loose material.

Deviations from these circumstances do not negate the usefulness of the table, but rather call for additional site-specific examination and/or explanation.

Site-specific research may be utilized under any circumstances.

Va. Code § 46.2-880

Code 1950, § 46-212.2; 1956, c. 600; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-195; 1989, c. 727; 2001, c. 145; 2003, c. 277.
Amended by Acts 2003, c. 277.
Amended by Acts 2001, c. 145.
Amended by Acts 1989, c. 727.
Amended by Acts 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-195.
Amended by Acts 1956, c. 600.