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Using Adaptive Cruise Control Leads Drivers To Speed, Says IIHS

While greater automation and new vehicle technologies are often cited as providing improved safety and comfort for passengers, those technological tools can still be misused. This is evidenced by a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which states that drivers often speed when using adaptive cruise control (ACC).

In a recent study, the IIHS analyzed the driving habits of 40 drivers from the Boston metro area over a four-week period, using data collected by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Consortium. Drivers were provided with a 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque with ACC, or a 2017 Volvo S90 with ACC and Pilot Assist, the latter of which is partially automated and includes a lane-centering feature.

According to study, “drivers are substantially more likely to speed when using ACC or partial automation that combines that feature with lane centering than when not using either technology,” with a 24-percent increased likelihood of driving over the speed limit on limited-access highways with the ACC systems active. What’s more, the amount in which drivers exceeded the speed limit was greater than when speeding with the systems deactivated.

That said, in an analysis of insurance claim data accumulated by the IIHS, ACC may still in fact lower overall crash risk. Studies have shown that the ACC systems will maintain a greater following distance by default when compared to most human drivers, while also reducing passing and lane changes.

“ACC does have some safety benefits, but it’s important to consider how drivers might cancel out these benefits by misusing the system,” said the lead author of the new paper, IIHS Statistician Sam Monfort. “Speed at impact is among the most important factors in whether or not a crash turns out to be fatal.”

As a reminder, General Motors Adaptive Cruise Control technology automatically accelerates and brakes the vehicle to maintain a driver-selected distance to the vehicle ahead, even in stop-and-go traffic conditions. To accomplish this, GM’s adaptive Cruise Control technology leverages onboard radar systems and cameras.

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Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. I have a 2021 cadillac and a 2021 jeep gladiator, both with acc. The cadillac system is far superior to the jeep version. I can’t speak for the other companies but the jeep one is nearly unusable. For example, if a car turns in front of me on the highway, the cadillac slowly let’s off the gas to get to the preset distance. The jeep slams on the break like a teenage girl which concerns about the person behind. Just my two cents.

    Reply
    1. When I’m delivering vehicles (Volvo and Mazda), I’ve noticed the same thing. It can be quite unnerving to be going along like you are supposed to be when for no (good) reason the ACC decides to slam on the brakes.

      Another very irritating feature is the back up braking. One day I was backing a Volvo up on the lot and could see a person walking about 10 feet behind me. Although not going fast, it’s still jarring to be backing up and then have the brakes slam on fully. In fact, it’s kind of dangerous if you are looking back with your head turned and have this happen.

      Reply
  2. Speeding is by definition illegal, but it isn’t inherently dangerous. If you’re in line with the flow of traffic, not weaving between lanes or tailgating, and driving a reasonable speed for the conditions of the road, you’re not posing any additional risk to yourself or others than should be expected for the road.

    Reply
  3. I like to drive my own vehicles and let siliconner sally worry about things like my oled tv.

    Reply
  4. A pool of 40 drivers in one metro does not make a conclusive study. Shame on them for even publishing with such a small study.

    Reply
    1. It’s IIHS. People forget that anything they publish is with the intent of reducing losses to insurance companies. After all, they’re funded by insurance agencies.

      Their agenda doesn’t care whether it will cost the consumer more in fuel, increase emissions, jack up purchase price, lower the lifetime of the car, make it boring to drive, waste people’s time stuck in traffic or whatever. They’re on a campaign to reduce speed limits to 65 nationwide, for example.

      Reply
  5. This is not any surprise. All these safety features tend to give most drivers a false sense of security and thus they drive like the car will do anything. This is kind of the same AWD/4WD false sense those drivers have thinking that their AWD/4WD is invincible in adverse driving conditions. Thus, they are normally the first ones in the ditch when the snow starts to fly.

    I’m not opposed to these safety features, but they certainly make the drivers act differently. Give me the more simple and comfortable vehicle with the crash protection that is best in class and I’ll do the rest.

    Reply
  6. Speeding is relative when coming from the USA’s perspective. The nation with subpar highways and cotton soft standards for issuing out licenses. I’ve driven on many Interstates and am always surprised at the lack of guard rails often missing on the sides and middle too. Drivers impede the flow of traffic all of the time which causes accidents. People don’t understand the concept of passing then returning to their lane. No sense of urgency. Also the highways are littered with rules along side them from the nanny state. I.e. buckle up! This state has had this many accidents this year! State law. Gross! Driving in Germany was such a clean experience. No constant reminder of the laws as they are implied if one is driving licensed. A tangent yes I know. But ever since returning to the states I realized how lame our system is for the number or country in the G20.

    So the government needs to pace its focuses elsewhere. Y’all are the ones that push for this technology and approve it. Surprise the sheep become dependent on it.

    Reply
  7. This is a flawed experiment. “Drivers were provided with a 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque with ACC, or a 2017 Volvo S90 with ACC and Pilot Assist.” If anyone were to give me a car to drive around for free I would drive the piss out it.

    Reply
  8. I’m sorry I wasted my time reading this article. 40 drivers is not a representative group. Put me in a relatively new Range Rover or Volvo and I guarantee I’ll be testing it out. Put me back in my vehicle and I’m back to grandpa mode. I love the ACC in my 2018 F350, use it all the time. Not so happy with the ACC in the wife’s 2018 Highlander but still use it. These systems do not make me drive any faster than my usual +5 mph, cruise on or off.

    Reply
  9. I just put in 5 mph over, and just chill in the right lane, overtaking as needed if the guy in front of me is doing speed limit or under.

    If a guy is doing 74.5 mph. it I just stay and chill. If anything, it has allowed me not to speed. as I’m staying in the cruising lane and just overtaking when the coast is clear, whereas before I would try to beat the guy in the overtaking lane to the spot if what you will.

    Reply
  10. So, just raise the speed limit. Out west, we have a lot of 80 mph freeways which result in very little speeding. I drove through west Texas a few years ago and found a posted 85 mph limit. No one was speeding. To me it’s a comfortable speed and challenging enough to keep me awake.

    Reply
  11. The wife’s 2017.5 Murano, ACC is a dream. It’s smooth and slows the vehicle in a manner by reducing the throttle. If a car cuts right in front it will apply the brakes but never have they been slammed on. As the throttle pulls back and you change lanes, as you start the maneuver the Murano accelerates to the set speed. The only time is was out of sync is when the vehicle is slowing down and the curve in the road is a bit sharp, the front of the car is pointing to the other lane so it thinks you are changing lanes and it wants to accelerate. The system seems to not check the steering position. I think I had it happen once or twice.

    Reply

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