Texas Department of Public Safety Practice Exam

To determine the maximum speed at which you should be traveling to stop your vehicle before hitting a child running into the street 60 to 65 feet ahead, one must consider the time it would take to react and the distance needed to stop the vehicle.

At a speed of 20 mph, a vehicle travels approximately 29.3 feet per second. If a child runs into the street 60 to 65 feet away, it gives the driver a little over two seconds to react and stop, which is generally sufficient for most drivers when an emergency arises.

When driving at 20 mph, the average stopping distance, which includes both perception time and braking distance, is roughly 60 to 100 feet, depending on the vehicle and road conditions. In this scenario, traveling at this speed allows enough time for the driver to perceive the danger, react by applying the brakes, and bring the vehicle to a stop before reaching the child.

In contrast, higher speeds would significantly reduce the driver's reaction time and increase the stopping distance, making it far riskier to navigate such a situations safely. Thus, maintaining a speed of 20 mph in this context is the best option for ensuring the safety of the child and achieving a timely stop.