What is Adaptive Cruise Control?
Richard Grungo – Grungo Colarulo – https://gcinjurylaw.com/
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is a system that automatically controls a vehicle’s speed while maintaining a safe distance from the leading vehicle in front. Essentially, if the leading vehicle speeds up or slows down, the system will adjust accordingly while still maintaining an appropriate distance.
Some more advanced adaptive cruise control systems also feature a stop-and-go component, which adapts to surrounding traffic and is beneficial in more residential areas. This component can bring the car to a complete stop and then accelerate again to a preselected speed or the speed limit when it is safe to do so. This technology is the advanced version of cruise control, as the driver does not need to pre-set their speed beforehand, and is more accommodating for traffic. Adaptive cruise control can also refer to intelligent cruise control, active cruise control, and automatic cruise control.
How Does it Work?
Although there are differences in how each car manufacturer creates the system, the adaptive cruise control technology is relatively standardized. The system typically uses a laser or radar to identify and accurately measure the distance
between the driver and the leading vehicle. This technology is considered to be the middle ground between traditional manual driving and self-driving cars.
On the other hand, the caveat to the laser technology is that the cruise control may not function properly when experiencing inclement weather or if the sensors are wet or dirty. Although most ACC systems utilize radar technology, which is unaffected by weather conditions and debris, consumers must be aware of which machinery is being used in their cars and when to appropriately use it. ACC technology is also commonly placed hand-in-hand with other automotive technologies, such as automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and even steering the car in more advanced applications.
Limitations to Adaptive Cruise Control
While ACC systems are meant to increase the safety of drivers, they are not meant as a substitute for a human driver. The system’s primary purpose is to enhance safety while allowing drivers to focus on other aspects, such as observing traffic laws, enhanced awareness, and focusing on directions. However, these features are not absolute. If the leading car suddenly makes an abrupt stop or turn, the driver must be ready to take over if the system does not react quickly enough. Similarly, as mentioned above, it may be dangerous to use this in inclement weather. The technology is an added layer of protection and safety, but it is not a replacement for manual driving.
The VINCI Autoroutes Foundation for Responsible Driving, an organization dedicated to changing drivers’ behaviors, published a study in 2013 on the effects of cruise control. In the study, the Foundation found evidence of reduced driver vigilance, with reaction times being substantially reduced by an average of one second. Reaction times can be even more delayed when drivers are on longer journeys and as the duration of travel increases. The organization also found evidence of drowsiness to be more frequent when a driver used cruise control.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also found a correlation between the use of the ACC system and speeding—Incidents where drivers would select a speed higher than the actual speed limit. Cars with this technology
exceeded the speed limit 95% of the time, compared to 77% of drivers who exceeded the speed limit when driving without the technology. Additionally, there was a link to a 10% higher risk of fatal car crashes.
The ACC system is designed to ensure the safety of the vehicle’s passengers. However, user errors and misuse of the system can likely cause motor vehicle accidents. User error can be seen through the driver’s belief in the system: Drivers may find themselves overly confident and drive recklessly, or not use safety features at all, as they feel like they do not need them. According to an IIHS statistician, many believe that the system is worthwhile and even beneficial if users properly maintain the system and abide by traffic laws.
Finding the Balance
While adaptive cruise control is designed for safety, incidents and accidents may still occur. ACC should not replace driver awareness and safety protocols, but can be convenient under the right circumstances. Legally, it will be interesting to see how the continued advancements of systems like ACC could impact civil lawsuits from car accidents or product liability claims
