A worrying attitude by European drivers on braking distances

Over half at 54 per cent of  Europe motorists either underestimate or are completely unaware of the safe stopping distance required when driving on high-speed roads in wet conditions, according to new research* commissioned by Apollo Tyres Ltd.  

Motoring organisations and regulatory bodies recommend that the usual two-second gap to the car in front should be doubled to four seconds on a wet road surface. However, 37 per cent of drivers think that a shorter than four second gap is appropriate, while 17 per cent don’t know what distance to allow. Furthermore, less than a quarter at 24 per cent are aware that in wet conditions the typical stopping distance should be doubled. 

Car owners aged between 18 to 24 and 45 to 54 are identified as the least likely to be aware of the correct braking distance on wet roads, with only 23 per cent of both groups aware of the correct guidance. 

Vredestein premium passenger car tyres, which are manufactured in Europe by Apollo Tyres, provide dependable grip and traction all year round, working with the vehicle’s braking system to deliver short stopping distances in dry and wet conditions.  

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President, Commercial EMEA, Apollo Tyres Ltd states“This survey underlines the importance of ongoing education about stopping distances. We also encourage car owners to check the wet grip rating of replacement tyres before making a purchase, so they can be confident the product won’t let them down in adverse weather. Our popular Vredestein Quatrac all-season line has been engineered to deliver controlled handling, short braking distances and reliable grip, providing drivers with confidence throughout the year.” 

Earlier this month the Vredestein Quatrac all-season tyre secured first place in Auto Bild Allrad’s annual group test of all-season tyres, outperforming 10 competitors. The Vredestein Quatrac was acclaimed by the testers for its ‘…all-round talent’ and for being ‘…balanced and safe on any surface’. The Quatrac excelled throughout the test, including in wet conditions, where it led the field for braking.  

The testers also noted that ‘…Vredestein’s all-season tread pattern… showed no weaknesses in aquaplaning’. In the snow, it secured first place for grip and braking.  

Through its Vredestein premium passenger car tyre brand, Apollo Tyres manufactures the broadest and most diverse range of products in the all-season tyre market. Vredestein has been at the heart of the all-season segment from its inception in the early 1990s, and many motorists favour the brand when they purchase all-season products.  

Vredestein Quatrac products are available in standard and high-performance variants which are all optimised to ensure safe and reliable braking response in even the wettest conditions, resisting aquaplaning and offering high levels of grip, traction and high-speed stability.  

The core Quatrac line is complemented by the Quatrac Pro+ range developed specifically for high-performance vehicles. All Quatrac tyres are suitable for vehicles equipped with the latest generation of hybrid and all-electric powertrains.  

Building on this success, Apollo Tyres will further strengthen the award-winning Quatrac range with the launch of an all-new product next year.