Adaptive cruise control is just one common feature of advanced driver assistance systems. These systems are in place to streamline the process of driving, as well as reducing incidents and fatalities on our roads.
What is Adaptive Cruise Control?
Adaptive cruise control, or ACC, is a driving assistance system which uses cameras and sensors to adjust a vehicle’s speed automatically based on the surrounding traffic and obstacles.
ACC is designed to keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you, and can even take control of the brakes to do so.
Some ACC systems can even read speed camera signs/detect the speed limit in certain locations, and take control accordingly. Overall, this system is meant for safety and comfort. ACC can be especially useful in long distance motorway journeys where fatigue is common.
The driver of the car can adjust the desired speed of the vehicle during adaptive cruise control, and the system will aim to match this speed wherever possible, just like regular cruise control. As mentioned above, adaptive cruise control differs by automatically changing this speed if safety requires it.
How does ADAS work?
ADAS works by using cameras, sensors and radar to detect other vehicles or obstacles. Using this information, ADAS features will act using either active or passive intervention.
Active features work by taking control of the vehicle to avoid danger or reduce the severity of damage. This could mean steering away from obstacles, or applying the brakes to avoid a collision. Sometimes the system will calculate the most effective ways to reduce damage, which won’t always be by applying the brakes fully, as if the vehicle is travelling at high speed, this could actually cause more damage.
ADAS systems might only partially apply the brakes or apply them gradually to slow down your vehicle in a safer manner.
Passive ADAS works by alerting the driver to obstacles through beeps or alarms. Sometimes passive systems will even alert you to outside variables such as speed limits and road obstructions.
How to ensure ADAS safety
ADAS can become less reliable and unsafe in some cases. Such cases include windscreen replacements, general car accidents, and sometimes the cameras and sensors will become poorly calibrated over time.
To counter this, it is important to get your ADAS calibrated from time to time. For more in-depth information about this, read our blog dedicated to ADAS Calibration.
Other ADAS Features
Some other ADAS features include:
- Automatic emergency braking – Using sensors and cameras, ADAS can detect danger faster than the average driver. If the driver doesn’t react quick enough, ADAS will intervene, and apply the brakes. This can be a lifesaving bit of technology.
- Lane departure warning – If a driver isn’t paying attention, and the vehicle starts unintentionally drifting from the desired lane, this system will beep to alert the driver to the issue. This system is also linked to lane keeping assistant, an active ADAS system that will actually intervene and steer the vehicle back on track.
- Forward collision warning – A system which uses sensors to detect imminent collisions and alert the driver to the issue. This system sometimes works alongside automatic emergency braking to avoid serious incidents.
- Parking assist – A system which helps streamline parking, especially parallel parking. This system still requires manual input from the driver. Usually, parking assist consists of cameras and a screen on the dashboard to show the driver their position relative to the cars or obstacles in front and behind them.
Some modern vehicles also have automated parking, which effectively uses sensors alongside automatic steering to park your vehicle in even the most awkward of spots. This eliminates the stress of parking entirely!
Does my car have ADAS?
Most modern cars have at least one ADAS feature. In fact, pretty much every vehicle manufactured in the last decade or so will be fitted with multiple systems. To learn what systems, if any, ADAS your car has we recommend reading the manual. Alternatively, a quick google search of your car make and model will probably give you the answers you need.
The most common features are parking assist and forward collision warning. We recommend taking some time to become familiar with your vehicle and its systems to ensure your safety on the road, and make driving a more relaxing and enjoyable experience.