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2003 SESSION


CHAPTER 277
An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-880 of the Code of Virginia, relating to tables of speed and stopping distances.
[S 782]
Approved March 16, 2003

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46.2-880 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-880. Tables of speed and stopping distances.

All courts shall take notice of the following tables of speed and stopping distances of motor vehicles, which shall not raise a presumption, in actions in which inquiry thereon is pertinent to the issues:

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  SPEED IN            AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCES            TOTAL STOPPING
                                                              DISTANCES:
                                           Avg Driver         DRIVER AND
                           Truck Brakes    Perception-                   
Miles   Feet   Automobile   Brakes on     Reaction Time                  
 Per    Per      Brakes     All Wheels   (1.5 Seconds)   Automobiles  Trucks
Hour   Second  (In Feet)    (In Feet)      (In Feet)      (In Feet)  (In Feet)
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10     14.7         5              6            22            27        28
15     22.0        11             14            33            44        47
20     29.3        19             25            44            63        69
25     36.7        30             40            55            85        95
30     44.0        43             57            66           109       123
35     51.3        58             78            77           135       155
40     58.7        76            102            88           164       190
45     66.0        96            129            99           195       228
50     73.3       119            159           110           229       269
55     80.7       144            192           121           265       313
60     88.0       171            229           132           303       361
65     95.3       201            268           143           344       411
70     102.7      233            311           154           387       465
75     110.0      268            357           165           433       522
80     117.3      305            406           176           481       582
85     124.7      344            459           187           531       646
90     132.0      386            514           198           584       712
95     139.3      430            573           209           639       782
100    146.7      476            635           220           696       855

The courts shall further take notice that such tables are the result of experiments made with motor vehicles, unloaded except for the driver, equipped with four-wheel brakes, in good condition, on dry, hard, approximately level stretches of highway free from loose material.

The courts shall further take notice that the above table has been constructed, using scientific reasoning, to provide factfinders with an average baseline for motor vehicle stopping distances: (1) for a vehicle in good condition and (2) on a level, dry stretch of highway, free from loose material.

Deviations from these circumstances do not negate the usefulness of the table, but rather call for additional site-specific examination and/or explanation.

Site-specific research may be utilized under any circumstances.