Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses the vehicle’s radar sensors and camera to maintain a safe following distance from the traffic ahead. Along with maintaining a programmed traveling speed as with traditional cruise control, ACC will also adjust the cruising speed based on a preset gap.
In stop and go traffic, certain systems can even bring the vehicle to a complete stop and then resume the preset cruising speed when traffic clears again. ACC systems may experience difficulty operating in poor weather, tunnels, or during severe braking conditions. On some vehicles, drivers may even see a visual warning on the instrument cluster that ACC functionality is unavailable.
