SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NAVIGATING WITH SAFE DISTANCES

Systems and methods are disclosed for navigating a host vehicle. In one implementation, at least one processing device may be programmed to receive an image representative of an environment of the host vehicle, determine a planned navigational action for the host vehicle, analyze the image to identify a target vehicle with a direction of travel toward the host vehicle, and determine a next-state distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle that would result if the planned navigational action was taken. The at least one processing device may further determine a stopping distance for the host vehicle based on a braking rate, a maximum acceleration capability, and a current speed of the host vehicle, determine a stopping distance for the target vehicle based on a braking rate, a maximum acceleration capability, and a current speed of the target vehicle, and implement the planned navigational action if the determined next-state distance is greater than a sum of the stopping distances for the host vehicle and the target vehicle.