What is adaptive cruise control?

Ever been on a long drive and wished you could give your foot a break from the gas pedal? Or maybe you already do that by letting your car handle the speed. If so, you’re using something called cruise control. However, many modern-day vehicles now use something called adaptive cruise control (ACC).

ACC is a handy feature that helps your car keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you and stick to the speed limit. It automatically adjusts your car’s speed, so you don’t have to constantly manage it yourself. But how does it actually work? Let’s break it down.

Understanding adaptive cruise control: How it works

Cruise control is great for keeping your car at a steady speed, but adaptive cruise control systems take things up a notch. Adaptive cruise control doesn’t just maintain your set speed—it automatically adjusts to match the speed of the car in front of you.

If the vehicle ahead slows down, adaptive cruise control (ACC) slows your car, too. When that car speeds up or moves out of your lane, your car will return to the desired speed you originally set. All you have to do is turn on the ACC system, set your speed, and choose your preferred following distance.

But how does it work? Adaptive cruise control relies on high-tech sensors like cameras, lasers, and radar sensors built into the car. These sensors keep track of the distance between your car and the one ahead, as well as other objects on the road. If there’s a risk of a collision, the system will alert you—typically with flashing red lights, a “Brake Now!” message on the dashboard, and sometimes even an audible warning—so you can take action. It’s like having an extra set of eyes on the road.

How do you use adaptive cruise control?

The exact controls can vary depending on your car, but generally, you’ll start by setting your cruise speed and choosing how closely you want to follow the car ahead. Most of the time, you’ll find the controls right on your steering wheel for easy access. And don’t worry—you’re always in control. You can step in at any time by pressing the brake or accelerator pedal.

To set your adaptive cruise control speed, you can use the +/- buttons or just accelerate as usual until you hit your desired speed. Then, press a button to let it “lock in” that speed. Most systems work as long as you’re going at least 40 km/h.

With adaptive cruise control, you can also set how much space you want to keep between your car and the one ahead—this is called the following distance or time interval. Most systems give you options like short, medium, or long distances. You can adjust it anytime to match changing traffic conditions, but generally, a longer distance is the safest choice for most driving situations as it gives you more time to brake or react in an emergency.

What are the different types of adaptive cruise control systems?

There are various types of adaptive cruise control systems. Let's explore some of them below:

Laser

This type of adaptive cruise control works through a large black box, usually located in your vehicle’s grille. It uses laser technology to sense how close objects are to your car. While it’s pretty reliable, it can struggle in rain storms or other challenging weather conditions.

Radar

Radar-based systems use sensors placed around your car’s plastic fascias to send out radar waves. These waves bounce off objects in front of you, and the sensors work together to create a clear picture of how close other vehicles or obstacles are. The system uses this information—distance, direction, and relative speed—to check if anything is within the following distance you’ve set. From there, adaptive cruise control predicts your car’s path and adjusts accordingly to maintain a safe distance from any vehicles ahead.

Prediction

Prediction systems are a type of adaptive cruise control that takes things a step further. They use sensor data to anticipate what other vehicles around you might do. For example, your car could slow down if it senses that another vehicle might suddenly switch into your lane. It’s all about staying a step ahead to keep you and your passengers safe.

Multi-sensor

Some adaptive cruise control systems combine multiple types of sensors to make driving even smarter. These multi-sensor setups use a mix of tools—like GPS and cameras—to gather detailed information about your car’s surroundings. This includes everything from your geographic location to how close you are to other vehicles, giving you a more advanced and accurate driving experience.

Assisting

Assisting systems are radar-based add-ons you can bundle with your car’s features. These pre-crash systems include helpful tools like lane keep control, automatic braking, cruise control, proximity alerts for things like corners, and even steering support. They’re designed to make driving safer and easier.

Benefits of adaptive cruise control

Using adaptive cruise control (ACC) has some big benefits, especially when it comes to safety. Keeping the right amount of space between your car and others helps reduce the risk of accidents caused by tailgating or blocked views. Plus, its ability to maintain proper spacing can improve traffic flow overall.

Further, newer adaptive cruise control systems come with cool upgrades like stop-and-go functionality, also known as traffic jam assist. This lets your car handle stop-and-start traffic by maintaining ACC at low speeds and even coming to a complete stop when traffic ahead stops. In most systems, you’ll need to tap a button or the accelerator to resume after a few seconds of being stopped.

The latest and greatest systems take it even further by bundling in other driver-assist features like lane-keeping assist, forward collision warnings, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. It’s all designed to make your commute as stress-free as possible.

Limitations of adaptive cruise control

As helpful as adaptive cruise control is, it does have its limits. Like standard cruise control, you’re still responsible for steering—though many cars now pair ACC with lane-keeping assist to make that easier.

Keep in mind that ACC might not react quickly enough if the car ahead suddenly slows down, so you should always be ready to brake. It’s also up to you to handle unexpected obstacles in the road with evasive maneuvers.

And remember, weather and debris can interfere with the cameras or radar sensors that ACC relies on. If those get blocked, the system might not work as well, so stay alert!

Learn more with BrokerLink

While adaptive cruise control is an amazing convenience and safety feature, it’s not a substitute for attentive driving. ACC helps maintain a safe following distance and adjusts your speed automatically, but it’s not foolproof. It may not react quickly enough to sudden stops or unexpected obstacles, so staying alert and ready to step in is always important. Think of ACC as a helpful co-pilot—it makes driving less stressful, especially on long trips, but the responsibility still rests with you.

Even with advanced features like ACC, accidents can happen—that’s where having the right car insurance comes into play. Having optional coverages like collision insurance can be beneficial, depending on your vehicle and budget, as it offers added protection when things don’t go as planned. A BrokerLink insurance broker can walk you through your options and help you find the best coverage for your needs.

You can reach us by phone, email, or in person at any one of our locations throughout Canada. No matter how you choose to get in touch, a BrokerLink insurance advisor will be happy to assist you. We also encourage you to take advantage of our free online quote tool that can provide you with a competitive quote in minutes.

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FAQs about adaptive cruise control

What does adaptive cruise control do?

Adaptive cruise control makes driving easier by automatically adjusting your car’s speed to match the car in front of you. If the car ahead slows down or speeds up, your ACC will do the same—up to the cruising speed you’ve set.

What is traction control?

Traction control is a standard safety feature in most modern cars that helps prevent your wheels from slipping. It’s an electronic system designed to keep your tires gripping the road, especially when you’re accelerating or driving on slippery surfaces.

What is the difference between AWD vs. 4WD?

When comparing AWD vs. 4WD, all-wheel drive (AWD) automatically powers all four wheels and runs continuously, so it’s always on. Four-wheel drive (4WD), on the other hand, is usually an on-demand system. With 4WD, you can manually turn it on or off, giving you the option to switch between two-wheel and four-wheel drive whenever you need it.

If you have any questions, contact one of our local branches.