When Are Brakes “Adequate”?

PRESENT laws call for a single “legal stopping distance” that must be met by all types of vehicles in order for those vehicles to be considered good. However, this stopping-distance requirement cannot always be met by all classes of vehicles on today's highways. General opinion realizes the need for revision of this requirement.

This paper does not specify what revisions should be made, but it does present information pertinent to the consideration of such revisions. The factors affecting brake performance and stopping ability which are discussed here are brake capacity, weight shift, tire capacity, and road condition.