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 and physical or psychological state, also have an influence.

It is important not to confuse the braking distance with other types of distances, such as the **reaction distance**, which is the space the vehicle travels from the moment the driver detects an unforeseen event until they react, or the **stopping distance**, which is the sum of the reaction distance and the braking distance.