Adaptive Cruise Control - do other drivers know you're using it?

[bwayne]

Not related to the brakes, but when I’m coming up on stopped or very slow traffic when at highway speed I always turn on my flashers. Some idiot might be checking his messages or be otherwise distracted and don’t see the traffic slowing, but hopefully the flashers might grab their attention. We had an incident this summer where traffic was down to one lane. An 84 year old driver slowed for traffic and the person behind him did not. The accident killed the 84 year old. A real tragedy.

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[commadorebob]

What I always wondered if the radar based systems activate a radar detector. Always drive with one and sometimes it signals for no apparent reason.

Shouldn't. Ford's system uses frequencies that far exceed that of police radar. Likely because of the fact the vehicle is in motion and needs a faster polling rate. Scanners are only going to pick up frequencies in the lower police range.

That said, they may pick up some of the scatter. But ACC won't directly set it off.

Not related to the brakes, but when I’m coming up on stopped or very slow traffic when at highway speed I always turn on my flashers. Some idiot might be checking his messages or be otherwise distracted and don’t see the traffic slowing, but hopefully the flashers might grab their attention. We had an incident this summer where traffic was down to one lane. An 84 year old driver slowed for traffic and the person behind him did not. The accident killed the 84 year old. A real tragedy.

I always have an escape path. I'm always looking behind me when stopping to make sure I don't need to bail from the road. But traffic makes me nervous anyway. Something about spending a year having those around me trying to literally kill me in traffic kinda makes me anxious in traffic despite that being almost 20 years ago.

 

[Mabcim]

I had this same question/wonderings. Thanks for posting.
I had the same ideas on testing it, just never got that far.

 

[Jmav2152]

Not related to the brakes, but when I’m coming up on stopped or very slow traffic when at highway speed I always turn on my flashers. Some idiot might be checking his messages or be otherwise distracted and don’t see the traffic slowing, but hopefully the flashers might grab their attention. We had an incident this summer where traffic was down to one lane. An 84 year old driver slowed for traffic and the person behind him did not. The accident killed the 84 year old. A real tragedy.

When coming up to traffic. On the highway or a abrupt stop, tapping the brakes to flash or pulse is a great practice as well. Obviously in a controlled fashion.

 

[Maverickman74]

Just as easy to have someone follow you in their car, get into some stop-and-go traffic, and observe the brake lights. Don't have my Maverick yet, or I would already know the answer...

Yeah but thats not really truckin'. Thats the kind of thing Santa Cruz people do.

 

[jsus]

Yeah but thats not really truckin'. Thats the kind of thing Santa Cruz people do.

Only Santa Cruz drivers have friends, family, and acquaintances?

 

[commadorebob]

Only Santa Cruz drivers have friends, family, and acquaintances?

No Santa Cruz people don't put their friends in the bed of the truck, hit the interstate, and approach traffic to tell me if the brakes turn on by themselves.

That's real truckin'.

 

[Maverickman74]

When you brake using ACC brake lights illuminate.

Source: me when I towed at night I can see the lights against the trailer show. 3rd brake light included.

That qualifies as truckin'

 

[CuriousGary]

ACC definitely illuminates the brake lights. I have followed my vehicle before when my wife was using it and also see it light up the night behind me when it engages the brakes using ACC.

Question on ACC: if ACC is on in your Mav, and the car in front of you goes thru a yellow or red light, will your vehicle follow the vehicle in front of you through the red light?

I suspect the answer is yes. Does anyone know for sure for the Mav?

Full disclosure: I have a RAV4 with ACC. I am not courageous enough to perform a test.

 

[Spook]

Question on ACC: if ACC is on in your Mav, and the car in front of you goes thru a yellow or red light, will your vehicle follow the vehicle in front of you through the red light?

I suspect the answer is yes. Does anyone know for sure for the Mav?

Full disclosure: I have a RAV4 with ACC. I am not courageous enough to perform a test.

ACC does not obey red lights or traffic signs or police cars with flashing blue lights. That's what drivers are for.

 

[CuriousGary]

Not related to the brakes, but when I’m coming up on stopped or very slow traffic when at highway speed I always turn on my flashers. Some idiot might be checking his messages or be otherwise distracted and don’t see the traffic slowing, but hopefully the flashers might grab their attention. We had an incident this summer where traffic was down to one lane. An 84 year old driver slowed for traffic and the person behind him did not. The accident killed the 84 year old. A real tragedy.

The tragic accident described above is why I consider ACC a safety feature. If you are the person with ACC turned on in your Mav, and you are temporarily distracted, ACC will slow your vehicle and even bring it to a stop.

Has anyone experienced such an emergency stop in a Mav Lariat with ACC?

 

[Naranjita]

Question on ACC: if ACC is on in your Mav, and the car in front of you goes thru a yellow or red light, will your vehicle follow the vehicle in front of you through the red light?

I suspect the answer is yes. Does anyone know for sure for the Mav?

Full disclosure: I have a RAV4 with ACC. I am not courageous enough to perform a test.

Your suspicion is correct. ACC is just cruise control that keeps a set distance from a vehicle in front of you. It also has the ability to stop and go as the traffic in front of you stops and goes. However, it is completely oblivious to stop lights and stop signs. It is not autonomous driving. But it is very good.

 

[jsus]

Question on ACC: if ACC is on in your Mav, and the car in front of you goes thru a yellow or red light, will your vehicle follow the vehicle in front of you through the red light?

I suspect the answer is yes. Does anyone know for sure for the Mav?

Full disclosure: I have a RAV4 with ACC. I am not courageous enough to perform a test.

It's (adaptive) cruise control.

Not autonomous driving.

Not full self-driving.

It just maintains the speed and/or lane you're in, short of slowing when the vehicle ahead slows, with no guarantee that it will be able to slow down in time to avoid a collision.

You're still fully in control at all times.

You're still fully responsible for ensuring that you, the driver, comply with all traffic laws, including but not limited to speed limits and traffic signals. As well as for ensuring the safety of the vehicle and its occupants, as well as that of anyone or anything outside the vehicle.

If the light turns yellow/red, you, the driver, must come to a safe stop, or, if not possible, proceed cautiously through the intersection.

 

[CuriousGary]

ACC does not obey red lights or traffic signs or police cars with flashing blue lights. That's what drivers are for.

Great comment. One question. One comment.

1) Do you have ACC in your Lariat and if so, have you experienced your Mav initiating an emergency stop? If so, do you mind describing your experience?

2) My BIL has a Tesla. Its multiple cameras do see stop lights and do initiate slowdowns, stops and emergency stops per my BIL.

 

[Naranjita]

The tragic accident described above is why I consider ACC a safety feature. If you are the person with ACC turned on in your Mav, and you are temporarily distracted, ACC will slow your vehicle and even bring it to a stop.

Has anyone experienced such an emergency stop in a Mav Lariat with ACC?

Yes. All the time. It even worked on a deer I did not see at sunset. I didn't understand why it was slowing at first. When I did finally see the deer, I wonder if I would have had time to completely stop. Either way, I was impressed. Although it would probably not work in a deer situation where they were running across the road.

2 or 3 times in 25k miles, it made hard emergency stops. When that happens, it also flashes red on the center stack screen telling you to apply brakes while it also is applying the brakes. The brake pump cannot quite apply the amount of pressure needed for the most severe stop. You will have to assist the assist, so to speak.

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