Adaptive Cruise Control—overtaking another vehicle
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
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Adaptive Cruise Control—overtaking another vehicle
After 40+ days and 2500 miles (70% highway, including a 900 mile trip on I-95), I have some thoughts on the ACC system. This is my first engagement with ACC and, overall, I think it makes it less tiring to drive long distances, but you have to be alert to its quirks. It presents a new set of circumstances that I must adapt to and “figure out” over time before my actions & reactions become routine.
For example, I can set the cruise to maintain a set speed and a set following distance; but, on the Interstate, I’ve occasionally found myself doing 5 or so miles less than the speed I had set—because my RDX has overtaken another vehicle traveling at a slightly slower speed. The ACC has adjusted my speed to maintain the set following distance—but did it so smoothly, and with no signal to me, that I did not notice slowing to match the speed of the vehicle in front of me. As I’ve gained experience, I’ve learned to watch for that and be prepared to pull into the left lane so that my ACC will let me pass the other car without slowing down—but that requires a specific kind of attention and “thinking ahead” that is different from what I’m used to.
Another observation is that whatever it is doing, ACC seems to react to a big truck a lot more quickly & sharply than to a small sedan—bigger radar signature, of course! The lesson here is that for a given setting, ACC’s reactions may differ—hopefully not in a surprising or dramatic way.
For example, I can set the cruise to maintain a set speed and a set following distance; but, on the Interstate, I’ve occasionally found myself doing 5 or so miles less than the speed I had set—because my RDX has overtaken another vehicle traveling at a slightly slower speed. The ACC has adjusted my speed to maintain the set following distance—but did it so smoothly, and with no signal to me, that I did not notice slowing to match the speed of the vehicle in front of me. As I’ve gained experience, I’ve learned to watch for that and be prepared to pull into the left lane so that my ACC will let me pass the other car without slowing down—but that requires a specific kind of attention and “thinking ahead” that is different from what I’m used to.
Another observation is that whatever it is doing, ACC seems to react to a big truck a lot more quickly & sharply than to a small sedan—bigger radar signature, of course! The lesson here is that for a given setting, ACC’s reactions may differ—hopefully not in a surprising or dramatic way.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 308
Likes: 63
I also have found a learning curve using this feature when driving on rural interstates with moderate to light traffic which is when it is most useful. My longtime goal has been to gauge the speed of the faster car in the left lane, and the speed of the slower car ahead of me to make the pass using cruise control with minimal braking or accelerating and completing the pass before the faster car in the left lane is on my tail. I try to make any speed changes gradual when necessary. It requires thinking ahead and predicting the positions of the cars ahead of time. It doesn't always work that way (especially with a lot of truck traffic), but it does most of the time.
It takes awhile to incorporate ACC into this style, because the car speed seems to be more jerky when the ACC is engaged. But it is a good safety feature on a long trip when monotony can start to happen to avoid a rear end collision. I have been using it with the short interval so it does not "intrude" too soon when I am planning my pass the way I have for years. I play a little game with myself seeing how many cars I pass without it ever being engaged. Later when I am more used to this feature, I may increase the interval an increment to provide more safety margin especially on long trips when fatigue can set in.
It takes awhile to incorporate ACC into this style, because the car speed seems to be more jerky when the ACC is engaged. But it is a good safety feature on a long trip when monotony can start to happen to avoid a rear end collision. I have been using it with the short interval so it does not "intrude" too soon when I am planning my pass the way I have for years. I play a little game with myself seeing how many cars I pass without it ever being engaged. Later when I am more used to this feature, I may increase the interval an increment to provide more safety margin especially on long trips when fatigue can set in.
Last edited by gtssenior; Jul 20, 2018 at 12:57 PM. Reason: spelling
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 1,026
From: New Yorkie, Hudson Valley
ACC is definitely a new learning experience. Not as strenuous as regular CC was, but new.
Why can’t I tell it to do 15 over on the interstate when WAZE says there are no cops about, and 9 over when there are? What a complete failure by Acura and Google, and no doubt Apple, Amazon, and Facebook as well.
How much must one endure?
Why can’t I tell it to do 15 over on the interstate when WAZE says there are no cops about, and 9 over when there are? What a complete failure by Acura and Google, and no doubt Apple, Amazon, and Facebook as well.
How much must one endure?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 308
Likes: 60
From: TN
acc is definitely a new learning experience. Not as strenuous as regular cc was, but new.
Why can’t i tell it to do 15 over on the interstate when waze says there are no cops about, and 9 over when there are? What a complete failure by acura and google, and no doubt apple, amazon, and facebook as well.
How much must one endure?
Why can’t i tell it to do 15 over on the interstate when waze says there are no cops about, and 9 over when there are? What a complete failure by acura and google, and no doubt apple, amazon, and facebook as well.
How much must one endure?
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2018
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From: New Yorkie, Hudson Valley
Alligator Alley is boring no matter what you are driving. Heck, I feel that most driving in FL is boring: long, flat, wide roads. Except for 95 between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, which is often terrifying.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2018
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From: Michigan
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 1,026
From: New Yorkie, Hudson Valley
And do NOT follow someone into a shopping center until the way is clear, a lot of those folks get in and stop to wonder about things.
My parents moved to Florida in 1974, and since then I have been down there every year. It can be a scary place to drive. A couple of years after they moved down, it was still the ‘70s, IIRC because the big bumpers had come out, I remarked (and it has been repeated often) that what they need down here are 30mph bumpers and 25mph governors on their cars, and let ‘em bang into each other as much as they want.
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