Each year, car manufacturers seem to introduce more advanced safety features. One feature that has steadily gained popularity is adaptive cruise control (ACC), a type of cruise control that adjusts based on the speed of the vehicle ahead.
Manufacturers claim that ACC can reduce the risk of rear-end crashes. But is this feature truly as revolutionary as its proponents suggest? And does it actually make our highways safer? These questions warrant a closer look.
How Adaptive Cruise Control Works
Basic cruise control is a system that maintains a vehicle’s current speed. Adaptive cruise control (ACC) improves upon that system by taking into account the speed of vehicles in front of the car with the feature engaged.
Generally, when using ACC, you’ll make two selections to start:
- Your preferred speed
- Your preferred following distance (usually short, medium, or long)
When there are no other cars ahead of you, your vehicle will maintain the pre-set speed. However, when another vehicle enters your vehicle’s detection range, your car will slow down to match its speed. Once the other driver moves to a different lane or turns off the road, your vehicle will return to its preferred speed.
To ensure accurate distance measurements, cars equipped with ACC systems feature multiple sensors. These often include cameras, radar, and lidar, a system that uses lasers to measure distance.
Potential Dangers of Adaptive Cruise Control
ACC can be incredibly convenient, and when used correctly, it may reduce the risk of car accidents. However, it’s not without dangers.
Before using a vehicle equipped with ACC, make sure you’re familiar with the potential downsides:
Sensor Errors
If a sensor malfunctions, the cruise control system may be unable to gauge distances accurately. That can mean that the car speeds up or slows down when it’s not supposed to.
Improper Use
ACC systems work best on mostly straight roads with good visibility. Drivers who use them on curvy roads or in bad weather may encounter malfunctions.
Using ACC on winding roads is dangerous because the sensors can’t see around curves. If there’s a vehicle on the other side of a blind turn, there may not be enough time for the car to brake. Similarly, snow, fog, and heavy rain can all impede sensor function.
Driver Distraction/Over-Reliance
Distracted driving contributes to car accidents regardless of whether vehicles are equipped with ACC. However, ACC gives many drivers a false sense of security, leading them to think they don’t need to pay attention to the road. Unfocused drivers may not have enough time to react when the unexpected happens.
Technically speaking, this isn’t a problem with the ACC technology itself — it has everything to do with the way drivers perceive the system.
Speeding
Speeding is another danger that has more to do with the drivers than the way adaptive cruise control is set up. ACC systems allow drivers to set their preferred speed, and some choose a speed that’s above the legal limit.
When a vehicle is going too fast for the road conditions, the driver has less time to react. A vehicle’s speed can also make the impact during an accident much more severe.
Contact the Joliet Car Accident Attorneys at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for Help Today
So is adaptive cruise control safe? When it’s used properly (meaning the driver stays fully engaged, has their hands on the wheel, and is ready to take over when necessary), the answer is yes. However, problems arise when drivers overestimate its capabilities.
For more information, please contact the experienced Chicago car accident lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys today. We offer free consultations.
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Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Chicago Office
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