Reaction time

Average your times from an online click test and see what that time means in metres on the road.

Your details

Try 1
Try 2
Try 3
Try 4
Try 5

Leave unused tries at 0. Use a few tries; the first one is often slow.

Your average reaction time

282 ms

average of 3 tries (0.3 seconds)

  • Tries counted3
  • Best and slowest255 and 310 ms
  • Distance travelled at 30 mph in your average time3.8 m (Highway Code thinking distance 9 m)
  • Distance travelled at 50 mph in your average time6.3 m (Highway Code thinking distance 15 m)
  • Distance travelled at 70 mph in your average time8.8 m (Highway Code thinking distance 21 m)

A click test only measures a simple reaction to something you are waiting for. The Highway Code thinking distances (9 m at 30 mph, 21 m at 70 mph) work out at about two thirds of a second, because on the road you also have to notice and decide. Tiredness, alcohol, some medicines and phones all slow reactions, which is why stopping distances are a guide, not a promise.

The working

Tries of 280, 255 and 310 ms

The average is (280 + 255 + 310) / 3 = 282 ms, about 0.28 seconds. At 30 mph a car covers 13.4 metres a second, so that is 3.8 metres, well under the Highway Code thinking distance of 9 metres.

Why the road numbers are longer

Noticing, deciding, acting

A click test measures a simple reaction to something you are expecting. On the road you first have to notice the hazard and decide what to do, so the Highway Code thinking distances (9 m at 30 mph, 15 m at 50 mph, 21 m at 70 mph) work out at about two thirds of a second.

What slows you down

Worth knowing

  • Tiredness and lack of sleep
  • Alcohol and drugs, including some prescribed medicines
  • Using a phone, even hands free
  • Distraction and stress

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

  • Say whether you are fit to driveNever use this to decide if you are safe to drive.
  • Test your eyesight or brain healthIf you notice your reactions changing, talk to your GP.
  • Standardise testsDifferent websites and devices give different times.

Questions

Common questions

What is a good reaction time?

There is no official benchmark. Results vary a lot between tests, screens and devices, so the fairest comparison is with your own past results on the same test.

How far does a car travel while I react?

At 30 mph a car covers about 13.4 metres a second. The Highway Code gives a thinking distance of 9 m at 30 mph.

What affects my reaction time?

Many things affect it on the day, including tiredness, alcohol, some medicines and distraction, so compare yourself over time rather than with other people.

Can this tell me if I am OK to drive after drinking?

No. Never drive after drinking or if you feel tired or unwell, whatever any test says.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

If your reactions have changed

If you have noticed your reactions, coordination or memory getting worse, talk to your GP. Sudden weakness, face drooping or slurred speech needs 999 straight away.

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