A place to discuss any general Highway Traffic Act related items.

Moderators: Radar Identified, Reflections, admin, hwybear, Decatur, bend

Mr. Peabody
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2010 2:46 pm

Braking Distances Accepted By Courts

by: Mr. Peabody on

Can anyone point me to some data that will be accepted in Ontario Traffic Court regarding braking/stopping distances. It would be nice if it was something downloadable. I'm refuting a ticket where the officer claims I should have been able to stop a car going 50 km/h in 10 to 15 feet.

User avatar
Reflections
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1489
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:49 pm
Location: somewhere in traffic

Moderator

by: Reflections on

If physics are involved ask the officer for his calculations and the braking coefficient of your car, the effect of gravity at the time and the expect life of your brake pads and rotors, the coefficient of your tires on the driving surface....etc.... he'll get the point.


Basically every time you stop your car it is different, not by much but it is.


15ft= 5 meters


50 km/h = 13.89 m/s


You'd have to stop you car in 4 tenths of a second. Those would be good brakes, really good brakes.

http://www.OHTA.ca OR http://www.OntarioTrafficAct.com
Biron
Jr. Member
Jr. Member
Posts: 91
Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 7:19 pm
Location: Hamilton, ON

Posting Awards

by: Biron on

.

..

Hi Peabody


Mr. Peabody wrote:I'm refuting a ticket where the officer claims I should have been able to stop a car going 50 km/h in 10 to 15 feet.

Is it a Careless Driving ticket?


If there was a motor vehicle collision, it sounds like following too closely.


The table in section 3 of the HTA, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 587, indicates that at 20 miles/hour (32.18 k/h), a vehicle having a seating capacity for less than 10 persons, on a dry, smooth, hard asphalt or other paved surface free from loose material and having not more than 1 per cent gradient, should stop within a distance of 25 feet (7.62 meters).


I do not know why they used the Imperial and not the Metric system.


I guess one could calculate the braking distances for different speeds.



Cheers.

..

.

cruzmisl
Member
Member
Posts: 107
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:24 pm

by: cruzmisl on

Nothing on the internet will help you. Its all hearsay. Now unless you're an expert in the field and have specialized training you can't really testify either. Even still you can say what you want and put forth a good argument but the truth is with the amount of variables involved in vehicle braking inculding but not limited to condition of the vehicle, condition of the brakes, coefficient of friction of asphalt, tire condition driver skill etc etc. its a futile argument imo.

User avatar
Bookm
Sr. Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 632
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:38 pm
Location: Stratford, Ontario

by: Bookm on

Did the officer travel over the exact same path as you (was he following you)? He would have to stand up and answer under oath to your question about road condition. Was there sand/dirt on the road, perhaps moisture from various sources?


The officer will likely provide testimony based on his training regarding clean, dry pavement (as per Bear, above). You don't have to present evidence to the contrary. Just get him to admit he did not investigate the conditions of the lane you were in. If he didn't, your judgment as to braking ability should prevail.


Nothing's guaranteed.

Just my opinion.


Sean

Post a Reply
  • Similar Topics

Return to “General Talk”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 22 guests