What time should be used if a person's reaction time is unknown?

When determining a standard reaction time to use in scenarios where the actual reaction time of an individual is unknown, it's common to adopt an average figure that reflects typical human behavior. In this context, a reaction time of approximately 0.75 seconds is often considered a reasonable estimate. This value takes into account the average time it might take for a person to perceive a stimulus and respond to it, offering a balance that captures the variability among different individuals.

Using 0.75 seconds as a standard provides a practical benchmark while acknowledging that some individuals may react faster and others may react more slowly. Choosing this value allows for effective planning and estimation in various situations, particularly in law enforcement contexts where understanding and anticipating human reaction times can be crucial in decision-making and urgency assessments.