Improving Highway Safety with the Adaptive Cruise Control

Nothing is more beautiful than driving long stretches of highway through rolling, forested hills or along the untouched shorelines on either coast. However, a downside to these long hauls along untamed beauty is the danger of becoming a bit careless when driving. With no cars on the highway for miles at a time, and speeds approaching 70 mph, it’s easy for drivers to set the cruise control system and let it due its magic. What happens, however, when the driver’s car slowly approaches a car in front and he’s not paying attention to the distance between the two cars? If the driver doesn’t react in time, a possible accident could occur. With a more advanced cruise control system, such as the adaptive cruise control model, this situation would be averted.

What does the adaptive cruise control (ACC) system do?

The ACC system acts like a second driver during those long hauls. It either utilizes a camera that’s placed in the car’s front grille, or a laser device that reads distances of objects in front. That device or camera then alerts the system’s computer-based system of any vehicles that is too close and then sends a signal to the engine or brake system to decelerate. Once the proper vehicle distance is reestablished, the system will then reactivate the original cruise speed.

The ACC system detects the rear end of all types of vehicles and even motorcycles. It can also operate smoothly during poor weather conditions, such as snow and fog.

Driving up the coast

Picture the following scenario. You’re taking a road trip up the coast for a combination of work and relaxation. You have two-weeks to see four clients so the majority of time will be spent sightseeing. You need to cover 1,000 miles, but most of the driving is scenic highway driving. Luckily, you’ve just had an ACC system installed in your car as part of your company’s ongoing fleet safety program. Now, when you’re alone in the car, driving those long, uninterrupted highways, you can set your ACC system and not worry about resetting the cruise control every 10 minutes. The system does the work for you – it applies the brakes to maintain safe distances and then automatically resets the cruise control to the pre-desired level. Now, even though you’re driving alone, you have an ever-reliable co-pilot on board!