Texas Driver's Handbook... Approximate Stopping Distances...?

Question

Does anyone know how to better explain about the approximate stopping distances for a car? This is information from a texas drivers handbook. I have my Drivers Permit test tomorrow but I don't understand this concept. FOr example, If you are going 20 mph it will take you 63 feet to stop. In between that there is a little box that has the numbers 44 and 19 in it. What does this mean??? Can someone explain it to me please thanks so much!

Answer 1

That means you will travel 19 feet in the reaction phase, then 44 more feet stopping, once you are on the brakes.

This is an average distance, reaction time was given a 3/4 second average when I took driver ed.

Imagine now how people follow too close, what was the stopping distance at 70 mph, I can't recall.