What is defined as the distance your car travels after you apply the brakes?

The term that describes the distance your car travels after you apply the brakes is the braking distance. This is the distance your vehicle continues to move forward from the moment you engage the brakes until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. It is important to understand that braking distance is influenced by several factors, including the initial speed of the vehicle, road conditions, tire conditions, and the braking power of the vehicle.

By distinguishing braking distance from other related concepts, you can see why this term is specifically appropriate. For example, reaction distance refers to the distance your vehicle travels while you are deciding and then physically moving your foot to the brake pedal. Stopping distance takes into account both the reaction distance and the braking distance, but it is not the definition of the distance traveled after the brakes are applied. Recovery distance generally does not pertain to stopping and instead refers to a period or area of regaining control or normalcy after an incident. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why braking distance is the correct term in this context.