How Do You Use ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control)? An observation...

[No Brand]

I am really starting to enjoy ACC. I find my best use is when traffic has come to a slow crawl on the interstate, I depress the "RES" (Resume) button and it accelerates very nicely along with traffic and slows appropriately until the traffic flow is back to highway cruising speeds.

My preference is to brake manually because I can see more than one car ahead in anticipation and I can brake more smoothly than the ACC.

In heavy stop and start traffic conditions (5 - 20 MPH slow moving) I allow ACC to handle acceleration and braking.

Any other experiences?

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[Oscarcat]

Here in San Diego CA I travel in 10-20 mph slow and go on the I-5 during commute time. I tried ACC and did not like it because I leave a greater interval between my front end and the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead. ACC does not, even though I fiddled with the settings. I just didn't trust it.

I figure traffic is flow. If leaving and interval means someone can change lanes and preserve flow so be it. Many drivers do likewise in San Diego.

It is totally different in Los Angeles slow and go. Drivers will not let you change lanes in front of them. Driving the I-405 I try to change lanes 3 miles before LAX and it takes that long to get to the right exit lane. It is like an ego thing - "I am winning if I am ahead of you."

 

[colinl]

I tried ACC and did not like it because I leave a greater interval between my front end and the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead.

right - it doesn't work well in extremely dense traffic because managing the gap ahead for braking and changing lanes is just not feasible.

I have not driven tesla autopilot or ford bluecruise in heavy traffic but I would bet it's the same. currently, you still need to be a human to drive in inhumane traffic conditions.
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however.. in wichita kansas metro (population <500k) it works great. rural 2-lane highway, it works great, and it's especially good at countersteering in heavy crosswind. I've done 70+ out by Dodge City with a steady 30mph crosswind gusting 50+ and ACC keeps it in my lane, without the the neck, shoulder and upper arm fatigue you get fighting that kind of wind without assistance.

on highways I used to get the 'hands on wheel' notification often, but I have trained myself to just put a little load on the wheel, gently pulling towards the near shoulder (left in left lane, right in right lane) and usually only see a few notifications per hour. it's a game changer for long trips, work or pleasure. the longer you're driving, the more it helps reduce fatigue.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

I didn't get ACC even though we wanted it (22-23 order conversion got mangled at dealer).

I read on a FB group there is some add-on system which adds cameras and is "full self drive", as good-ish as Tesla..

 

[Egz]

Usually only at highway speeds, but a couple of weeks ago I tried it when a line of traffic got stuck behind an ag tractor. It was nice to see it would slow all the way down to an almost complete stop, and back up to a gentle walking pace that traffic was stuck at. Too bad lane following didn't like that road, or maybe that speed.

 

[RobN]

Never tried the Ford ACC, but had one in a rental once. I hate them.

I want to set the cruise where I want it, and I'll turn it off or change lanes when I'm getting too close - I don't want a computer to guess at following distance for me. It often got me too close or too far behind someone in front of me, or slowed down when I was getting ready to change lanes, and it just did a poor job.

I'd rather pay attention to following distance myself, thanks.

 

[Rcrew]

It’s taken a while to trust the stopping capability. And I still stay prepared to brake. But I’ve found it very stress reducing, especially in stop & go traffic, city & freeway.

I do alter the following distance, using the closest setting for stop & go, longest distance for full speed highway.

The fact it can full stop & go with no intervention as long as it’s not too long a full stop is great.

Another plus design, it seems to recognize a difference between a vehicle changing into your lane that is moving away from one that needs to be stopped for.

Definitely a useful feature. Lane centering is a completely different story. Tried it a few times. Personally don’t like it at all.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Usually only at highway speeds, but a couple of weeks ago I tried it when a line of traffic got stuck behind an ag tractor. It was nice to see it would slow all the way down to an almost complete stop, and back up to a gentle walking pace that traffic was stuck at. Too bad lane following didn't like that road, or maybe that speed.

If you can trust it and keep foot off brake it will stop and resume also. I cannot bring myself to trust it to stop though.

 

[Rcrew]

If you can trust it and keep foot off brake it will stop and resume also. I cannot bring myself to trust it to stop though.

Totally get the trust issue. We need a modified ‘trust but verify’ saying. Maybe ‘trust but keep your foot hovering over the brake pedal’?

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Totally get the trust issue. We need a modified ‘trust but verify’ saying. Maybe ‘trust but keep your foot hovering over the brake pedal’?

The one time I managed to let it stop I think it was 6 feet. I think the computer stops about 0.6 seconds before impact. Plus the Maverick is not as close as it appears to be from inside the cab. FYI if you tap resume while in a turn the ACC will not resume until it sees enough pavement or when steering wheel is close to straight ahead.

 

[Rcrew]

FYI if you tap resume while in a turn the ACC will not resume until it sees enough pavement or when steering wheel is close to straight ahead.

Great comment. I’m going to have to try this. Turns, especially freeway clover leaf exits didn’t seem to work well.

 

[VoodooMaverick]

I’ve been using ACC since we purchased our 2013 Fusion with it. Also have a 2018 Tesla M3 with FSD. My 2024 Mav Lariat Tremor works very well in all conditions. I did notice the other day when I was in stop and go traffic that when my truck fully stopped and I hit the accelerator instead of RES there was a slight jerk. But using the RES button was smooth as glass. In stop n go conditions I trust the ACC more than myself and look at us as a backup system. I get that some of you don’t trust it but I encourage you to try it. These systems reduce stress in stop n go conditions and have had millions and millions of miles of actual use.

One of the three reasons I downsized from my 2020 Ranger Fx4 Lariat was to get the ACC with full stop n go.

 

[Oscarcat]

right - it doesn't work well in extremely dense traffic because managing the gap ahead for braking and changing lanes is just not feasible.

I have not driven tesla autopilot or ford bluecruise in heavy traffic but I would bet it's the same. currently, you still need to be a human to drive in inhumane traffic conditions.
_____

however.. in wichita kansas metro (population <500k) it works great. rural 2-lane highway, it works great, and it's especially good at countersteering in heavy crosswind. I've done 70+ out by Dodge City with a steady 30mph crosswind gusting 50+ and ACC keeps it in my lane, without the the neck, shoulder and upper arm fatigue you get fighting that kind of wind without assistance.

on highways I used to get the 'hands on wheel' notification often, but I have trained myself to just put a little load on the wheel, gently pulling towards the near shoulder (left in left lane, right in right lane) and usually only see a few notifications per hour. it's a game changer for long trips, work or pleasure. the longer you're driving, the more it helps reduce fatigue.

Thank you for confirming my experience with ACC in my kind of traffic. Maybe in a later generation of ACC there will be a mode for stop and go traffic.

 

[Utron]

For me ACC takes care of the micromanagement of driving, so I can concentrate on the big picture, which is the traffic around me. If I want to change lanes, I can turn my head and take a good look without running into the car in front.

It does seem to have a panic attack if the vehicle in front of me is slowing down to turn. I know there's not a problem, but I guess it thinks the vehicle is stopped in the road.

As long as the road is well marked, I always use it, there are too many things that can go wrong when driving, another set of eyes is always welcome.

 

[Old Fart]

I experienced ACC on a rental car, the manual wasn't in the glove box and I didn't have the time to sit in the car to figure out how to turn it off, I ordered my next vehicle, a Maverick, because I didn't want that on my new one or leatherette seats either. XLT with Luxury package is upgraded enough. Besides I didn't want car payments either.

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