The **braking distance** is the space a vehicle travels from the moment the driver applies the brake until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. This distance can vary depending on several factors, such as the vehicle's **speed**, the **load** it carries, the vehicle's **technical conditions** (such as the state of the brakes and tires), the **weather** (for example, if the ground is wet), and the **road conditions**. The **driver's characteristics**, such as their age or physical and psychological state, also influence it.

It is important not to confuse braking distance with the **stopping distance**, which is the total space the vehicle travels from the moment the driver detects an obstacle until it comes to a complete stop. The stopping distance includes both the **reaction distance** (the time it takes for the driver to react) and the braking distance.