Two distances make one stop
Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance. Thinking distance is the distance travelled while the driver reacts, before the brakes begin to act. Braking distance is the distance travelled while the brakes slow the vehicle to rest. In this illustrative stop, thinking distance is 12 m and braking distance is 24 m, so total stopping distance = 12 + 24 = 36 m. The animation separates the reaction stage from the braking stage.