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United Kingdom · Theory test

Stopping distances for the theory test

The theory test stopping distances come from the Highway Code’s chart of typical stopping distances. At 30mph a car needs 23 metres to stop: 9 metres of thinking distance and 14 metres of braking distance. At 70mph it’s 96 metres, about 24 car lengths.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Typical stopping distances

SpeedThinkingBrakingOverall stopping distance
20mph6m6m12m (40 feet), 3 car lengths
30mph9m14m23m (75 feet), 6 car lengths
40mph12m24m36m (118 feet), 9 car lengths
50mph15m38m53m (175 feet), 13 car lengths
60mph18m55m73m (240 feet), 18 car lengths
70mph21m75m96m (315 feet), 24 car lengths

These are a general guide. The real distance depends on your attention, the road surface, the weather and the condition of your car. The car lengths use an average car of 4 metres.

How do you remember stopping distances for the theory test?

Learn the two halves separately. Thinking distance goes up by 3 metres for every 10mph: 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21. Braking distance is the one that grows fast: 6 metres at 20mph, but 75 at 70mph. Add the two and you have the overall figure.

Safety margins on wet, icy and fast roads

Rule 126 of the Highway Code says drive at a speed that lets you stop well within the distance you can see to be clear, and never get closer than the overall stopping distance. On high-speed roads, and in tunnels where you can’t see as far, leave at least a two-second gap to the vehicle in front. Pick a fixed point like a sign to count it.

On wet roads, at least double that gap. On icy roads, it can need to be up to ten times greater.

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Sources: The Highway Code and 1 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.