Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-880 (2026)

Tables of speed and stopping distances

✓ current as of May 2026

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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:

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

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.

Code 1950, § 46-212.2; 1956, c. 600; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-195; 1989, c. 727; 2001, c. 145; 2003, c. 277.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 13 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1995–2025 · leading case: REVI, LLC v. Chicago Title Ins. Co., 776 S.E.2d 808 (Va. 2015).

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REVI, LLC v. Chicago Title Ins. Co., 776 S.E.2d 808 (Va. 2015). · cites it 4× “Given the context of the statute, we reasoned that the General Assembly intended “to include juries within the meaning of the word ‘courts’” and concluded that courts could instruct juries “as to the contents of the statute which are pertinent to the issues in a particular…”

Rascher v. Friend, 689 S.E.2d 661 (Va. 2010). · cites it 2× “See Code § 46.2-880 (statutory speed table indicating that 20 miles per hour equates to 29.”

Sharon Elizabeth Furr v. Tamara Al-Saray (Va. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 8× “Both instructions were derived from Code § 46.2-880, which includes “tables of speed and stopping distances of motor vehicles” that “courts shall take notice of.”

Sharon Elizabeth Furr v. Tamara Al-Saray (Va. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 6× “7 One version included the complete table in Code § 46.2-880, while the other version requested only the single horizontal row applicable to a speed of 45 miles per hour.”

Hammer v. Clark (W.D. Va. 2023). · cites it 5× “See Va. Code § 46.2-880 (“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 .”

Konradt Gunter Tatusko v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 4× “During Fish’s cross-examination, the trial court declined Tatusko’s request to take judicial notice of the stopping-distance table in Code § 46.2-880. The trial court denied Tatusko’s motion to strike and renewed motion to strike.”

Vasterling v. Dirle (E.D. Va. 2023). · cites it 2× “Using Virginia Code § 46.2-880’s Tables of speed and stopping distances, Officer Kera calculated that Dirle was traveling at a rate of 115 feet per second during the 2.”

Seamster v. Taylor (W.D. Va. 2022). · cites it 2× “See Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-880 . But this code section merely provides the average driver PRT and does not require that a court apply that time to every single accident, regardless of circumstances.”

Al-Saray v. Furr (Va. 2025). · cites it 2× “5 According to Code § 46.2-880, traveling at 45 miles per hour is the equivalent to traveling at 66 feet per second.”

Commonwealth of Virginia v. Nahom F. Beyene (Va. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “The Commonwealth presented the tables of speed and stopping distances, Code § 46.2-880, as evidence that the Jeep was following too closely.”

Demetrious M. Green, s/k/a Demetrious Melvin Green v. Commonwealth (Va. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “See Code § 46.2-880. Even if the trier of fact could have concluded that the car was moving at 35 miles per hour after it “took off,” a car traveling at that speed covers 1,530 feet in 30 seconds.”

Catherine Renee Tellez v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2025). “” Dwyer’s calculations were based on the dashcam footage and the averages given in Code § 46.2-880 (giving tables of speeds and stopping distance), and they did not factor in any changes to the brakes or engine of C.”

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