How to stop worrying and trust adaptive cruise control?

[Dash Riproc]

I've never had adaptive cruise control in a vehicle before. I like the idea, and for the most part it works fine on the highway but most of my driving is on urban freeways and streets with people cutting in and out. I know it's supposed to automatically adjust your following distance for cars that cut in front of you, and it does - at least the few times I've had the guts to let it - but I'm constantly hovering my foot above the brake and usually end up giving up and turning the cruise off altogether. I just cannot relax and let the car do the work.

I also find myself constantly futzing with the settings, checking the indicator bars, and paying more attention to whether the car is braking or accelerating than with what's going on around me on the road. Which of course leads to even more anxiety.

Am I too paranoid? Too set in my ways? Anybody else have trouble adapting to this technology? Will I learn to trust it over time?

 

[youri]

You don’t have to change your ways to adapt to technology. Use it to fit your needs instead. Find out where it is useful for you and use it then, when it isn’t don’t use it.

I like to use it on highway just like how i would use cruise control, but also in traffic when there are large speed variation or on single lane highway where you will inevitably end up behind someone slower at one point.

But for me I use it as an additional safety net. I still drive the car myself, but I know that if i am not paying attention at the moment the car in front of me slow down I won’t rear end the car in front of me. To use it that way is easy. Let’s say i am in a 50 mph zone I set it to the speed i want. If a car slows down in front of me I brake myself most of the time before the adaptive cruise control does. That turns it off, once my speed is adjusted to the car in front I press resume, it turns it back on again and I let it follow the car in front of me. If someone cuts in front of me I can brake manually but at least I know it will adjust on its own to the car in front of me if I don’t.

It is not an autopilot, but you can learn to use it when it is useful to you and don’t when it isn’t

 

[GFrosty]

I've never had adaptive cruised control in a vehicle before. I like the idea, and for the most part it works fine on the highway but most of my driving is on urban freeways and streets with people cutting in and out. I know it's supposed to automatically adjust your following distance for cars that cut in front of you, and it does - at least the few times I've had the guts to let it - but I'm constantly hovering my foot above the brake ...

IMO, the "adaptive" (LIDAR/distance) cruise is a bit like "self-driving", in that the car's sensors are required to 100% manage the situation. And if in an ever-changing, rapidly-changing situation like you describe, then perhaps it's inappropriate to be using it there and expecting it to recognize (in time) every instance of cutting-in-and-out.

I've had one rental car with adaptive/LIDAR cruise, a Subaru of the ~2020 vintage. Had it set to the max distance (IIRC, 3sec; I thought 4sec would have been preferable). It didn't have an auto-braking component, but it would ditch the throttle as needed. Worked well enough on the highway, but it wasn't quick enough in rapid cutting-in/cutting-out situations. That was a Subaru system. You're speaking of Mazda's system. But the quick cutting problem is much the same.

I'd suggest trying it during only those segments of road where you know the speeds are tolerably predictable and the cut-in/cut-out behavior is at a bare minimum. See if you can get used to it there, first.

I don't blame you for feeling like you're wanting to hover your foot above the brake, this first experience with the adaptive cruise. Can be useful, but it might take some time to get used to it.

 

[wlong01]

Would not use it on streets with people cutting in and out.
It's good on highways and 4 lane roads where there isn't a lot of stop and go.

 

[Buzzman12]

Sorry to be Debbie Downer here, but it's called adaptive cruise control. It's not called self driving mode.
You shouldn't really be using it in the type of traffic that you describe. It's for highway cruising where there's little to no cross traffic or slowdowns or stops. You need to be an active driver, in full control, when driving in high traffic areas with potential stop and starts. It's not an autonomous car.

 

[ADS-B]

It is my opinion that cruise control should be used on freeways only when there is light traffic and you have to make long trips. And adaptive cruise control should be used in the same way. I do not recommend to use cruise control (adaptive or not) in urban traffic.

 

[GFrosty]

It is my opinion that cruise control should be used on freeways only when there is light traffic and you have to make long trips. And adaptive cruise control should be used in the same way. I do not recommend to use cruise control (adaptive or not) in urban traffic.

This.

It's got LIDAR to be adaptive, sure. But it's still cruise control. It's not self-driving, it's not omniscient, it can't be as reactive as a driver is capable of being. And, as you say, it should be treated as such ... "adaptive" or not.

 

[stickerbush]

I've not seen anyone else mention this before but one thing I don't like about adaptive cruise control is that it reduces speed in curves. This is not due to any vehicles being detected, I can be the only car around and speed will be cut by several miles per hour when the car is in a curve.

 

[Dash Riproc]

It is my opinion that cruise control should be used on freeways only when there is light traffic and you have to make long trips. And adaptive cruise control should be used in the same way. I do not recommend to use cruise control (adaptive or not) in urban traffic.

Hmmm... my understanding is that ACC is designed for that. Am I misunderstanding it?

I've seen videos where the ACC keeps you in position even in slow or stop and go traffic. I've tried it in slow traffic a couple of times and while it did work, it was still pretty unnerving to me worrying that the car would in fact stop. We were at slow speeds already so I could hold off a bit longer on the brake, and it did in fact brake correctly. But, you still have to be cognizant of stop signs and red lights, because the system doesn't recognize those, and you still have to tap the accelarator or hit the RES button if it takes you to a complete stop, so after a few minutes I just gave up and turned it off. It seemed more trouble than it was worth.

Also, I could easily see how somebody who was relying on ACC would be lulled to sleep and forget to take over at a stop sign/red light.

One of my issues with it on freeways is that I go to great lengths to find myself a "niche" in the traffic and keep it there. By "niche" I mean a spot in traffic that, to the greatest extent possible, gives me buffer zones to my front, back, and sides, so that if I have to make an emergency stop or take sudden evasive action I won't sideswipe somebody or risk a rear end collision. This means I'm constantly tweaking my position so that I'm not riding in somebody's blind spot, avoiding a car riding in mine, moving over so a tailgater will go on and pass me, etc. The ACC doesn't take all these variables into account, only the distance of the leading car, and I find myself "boxed in" far too much for my liking. So even when/if it's working, I'll end up turning it off until I can re-establish myself in another "niche", and then I have to reset it. Just another distraction I don't need especially given the stress inherent in urban freeway driving already.

 

[Dash Riproc]

I've not seen anyone else mention this before but one thing I don't like about adaptive cruise control is that it reduces speed in curves. This is not due to any vehicles being detected, I can be the only car around and speed will be cut by several miles per hour when the car is in a curve.

I've not noticed that but I haven't trusted it enough to use it that much. I'll look for that at the next (safe) opportunity.

A couple of months ago I rode in a self-driving Tesla. I wasn't even aware until after we'd been riding for a half hour or so that it was self-driving. I was mesmerized by the detailed - and accurate - traffic depictions on the (giant) touch screen and at one point noticed that the driver/owner was paying undue attention to our conversation and not so much to the traffic, which was quite heavy at the time. I finally asked "is this thing driving itself?" and he got excited and said "YES!" and then proceeded to explain it all. It was as fascinating as it was unnerving. This thing took corners and stop signs so seamlessly you would never even know it. We went from a twisty country road to downtown congestion to freeway and back home on the twisty country road AT NIGHT. As far as I could tell the Tesla didn't flinch, and the owner didn't seem to have a care in the world that it would miss something.

Obviously Mazda's not there yet, or if they are they haven't put that system into their vehicles afaik. I suppose this is where we're heading and ACC is the first step. I can't decide if that's a good thing or not. Time will tell, I guess.

 

[GrampaSlade]

I figured I wouldn't like it either, until I used it in stop and go traffic on the interstate. it doesn't seem to want to go again after some time at full stop but that's fine. As for city driving, I am not a fan of the city braking. Coming up behind someone that's turning, I usually just swing out and go around without thought of slowing. This car thinks I'm going to hit soooooo, head into steering wheel and everyone behind me thinking I'm an idgit for slamming on the brakes though I didn't.

 

[N7turbo]

ACC was designed for varying speeds, unlike old school cruise. Yes, you can and should use it in traffic.

However, I see your problem. It's not ideal to have cars cutting in front of you. It's annoying, but you can be sure that the Mazda is not going to let you run into the car ahead. The brakes WILL engage to prevent it. What the car can't prevent, though, are secondary accidents where someone could hit you from behind. But that's also true in a world without automated cruise.

 

[sm1ke]

Yes, as @N7turbo mentioned, ACC was designed for use in traffic, at the driver's discretion. I find it most useful on the highway, in speed-reduced areas due to construction. It allows me to maintain a safe following distance behind the car in front of me with minimal input to reduce and then increase my speed. I do also use it in the city, even in 60km/h zones, but only because I'm comfortable enough with it to know when to turn it off and when to switch it on. It helps to remember that it is a driving assistance feature - if you don't feel that it can assist you in certain situations, don't use it in those situations.

 

[Moonlighter]

I use it quite often
- around town generally when traffic is light and moving steadily or negligible traffic - its a good way to stay at the speed limit and not have to worry about getting fined
- on the highway I have it on nearly 100% of the time. Just makes the trip so much more relaxing, and with the unmarked highway patrol cars, hidden radars, overhead radar, seat belt and mobile phone cameras being everywhere, you just dont need to worry.

Last year I drove with my son from home near Brisbane to the Bathurst racetrack west of Sydney - about a 12 hour drive highway each way - done in one day - and the car rarely came off cruise control. Made it much easier.

I dont use it in moderate to heavy stop/start traffic. It can brake unnecessary sharply and make you a target for the doofus thats following too close behind not paying attention.

 

[N7turbo]

I will say, I once used it in heavy stop and go traffic. I was coming back east from Denver and a section of the highway was closed, taking it down to one lane and moving at an average of 5 mph. Not having to be on the brake constantly for that 30-45 minute section was a huge relief. You just need to tap the gas to get it moving again if you stop.

 

[stickerbush]

Anyone know for sure whether the brake lights are initiated when ACC slows the car?

 

[N7turbo]

Anyone know for sure whether the brake lights are initiated when ACC slows the car?

Yes. I've seen the glow.

 

[sm1ke]

Anyone know for sure whether the brake lights are initiated when ACC slows the car?

Yes they are illuminated when the brakes need to be applied to slow down, but the car will usually downshift to use engine braking in most scenarios. As an example, if you're going 100 km/h and approaching a car in front doing 80 km/h, and you don't manually brake to adjust, the ACC will slow the car with the brake. However, if you're going 100 km/h and approaching a car doing 90-95 km/h, the car will have enough time to adjust to the speed of the car in front without doing enough to illuminate your brake lights.

 

[hsdejong]

As an example, if you're going 100 km/h and approaching a car in front doing 80 km/h, and you don't manually brake to adjust, the ACC will slow the car with the brake. However, if you're going 100 km/h and approaching a car doing 90-95 km/h, the car will have enough time to adjust to the speed of the car in front without doing enough to illuminate your brake lights.

Just like humans do...

 

[N7turbo]

I don't like how it applies the brakes when you go downhill, even if you only go 1mph over the set limit. So if I'm changing pitch often, I don't use it.