Intro to MD: Safe Stopping

STOPPING POWER

Tow trucks and carriers will all have their own individual and unique requirements for braking times. However, the time and distance required for braking will increase based on speed and weight that the vehicle is towing. It is always recommended to keep a safe distance when driving, though this becomes even more important when carrying a load.

The recommended distance between an unloaded typical light-duty wrecker and the vehicle ahead is four seconds or three car lengths. As laid out below, this stopping distance/time increases based on speed and weight.