Most work trucks are equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS). Chances are, you are paying 10%-15% less for vehicle insurance because of this feature. Now before you say; my insurance is up 30% in the past three years you moron. I say imagine if you added another 10-15% because you had regular brakes. This is great, but it will still take longer to stop your work vehicle than a normal car and of course, don¡¯t forget reaction time. Cars don¡¯t stop by themselves yet. Neither does your truck.

A driver¡¯s reaction time is approximately three-fourths of a second. This time must be transferred to feet and added to your miles per hour. To do this, take the first digit of the speedometer reading and add it to the total speed. If you are traveling 20 miles per hour, your vehicle will travel 22 feet between the time you react to the hazard and move your foot to the brake. 20 (mph) + 2 (1st digit) = 22 feet reaction time. This is exactly why you should slow down in residential neighborhoods. Now let¡¯s add ten more feet since you¡¯re in a work truck. Whoops! Thirty-two feet. You just hit Fluffy the neighborhood cat. Miss Smith is an animal rights activist. Now you¡¯ve had it. Your insurance will not help you from her wrath.

At 55 mph your reaction time is 60 feet. Now add in 160 feet for braking distance. That¡¯s 220 feet. You just rear ended a 560 SEC Mercedes and doubled your insurance. The passenger is faking a sore neck and has a brother in Century City who is an attorney specializing in personal injury.

At 65 mph your reaction time is 71 feet plus 240 feet to stop. This time you rear-ended a ¡®Vons Is Value¡¯ truck. Luckily your work truck has one and the airbag deployed, but it broke your nose. Your truck is totaled and it takes twenty days to build a new one providing your insurance company gives you a check first for your old one.

Braking distance is the distance the vehicle travels once the brake is applied and is also determined by the vehicle speed. At 20 miles per hour, reaction distance is 22 feet. Add 18 to 20 feet for braking distance. The total stopping distance is 40 to 42 feet. 22 (reaction time) + 18 to 20 (braking distance) = 40 to 42 feet total stopping distance.

Drive safe and think about it.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/