I was on my street turning with my GS and arguing with my uncle and almost ran into someone that was going straight as I was making a turn left. I missed the person by 6 feet or so. If I had that system I believe the car would have broke for me and this wouldn't have happened. Is that how it works with the RLX advanced option?

 

It depends. You're responsible for how the car behaves because it will not bring you to a stop 100% of the time, and the collision avoidance system will never go into threshold, 100% maximum capability braking.

The car's systems help, but they are not foolproof.

There are many times that the audible warning plus the bright flash of orange on the windscreen (which warns you that the car's intervention is imminent) will cause a driver to do what he needs to do, which is to pay attention immediately and brake harder or turn away.

It's a big help.

But don't think for a moment that it replaces the driver's ability to decide when threshold braking is required, because the car does not replace the driver's ability to use maximum braking.

 

To add to George's comments: the RLX FCW (Forward Collision Warning) and CMBS (Collision Mitigation Braking System) are not replacements for the driver bringing the car to a full stop or moving the vehicle to avoid a collision of any sort.

the RLX will do two things for you to assist:

1. Warn you with the bright orange flashing indicators in the windshield. On the PAWS vehicles this is located on the front of the dash board and reflects against the lower part of the windshield, like a HUD. I do not know where and how this works on the SH, since the HUD replaces the PAWS FCW warning indicators.

2. Completely disengage the throttle from being able to give gas to the engine to keep it moving. It's the equivalent effect of putting the transmission into "neutral".

I've experienced both of the above functions on numerous occasions. The FCW indicators can sometimes send off false alarms. However, the throttle disengagement is pretty particular to more accurate situations whereby you are about to butt into someone cause you're coming too close. This happens to me on occasion in stop-n-go traffic when the person in front of me starts to move (from a full stop) but then quickly comes to a full stop after I've started to accelerate, the throttle will disengage and all I'll get is a high-revving engine, only to then hit the brakes to come to a stop.

However, neither of these systems can prevent a collision once you have exceeded certain speeds, both you and the opposing vehicle or object. For example in my accident back in September, I was going 35mph, and the opposing vehicle came directly out from the right roughly 20ft away from the point of impact. There was absolutely NO time for CMBS or even me to prevent that collision.

What I did learn from that experience was how well the ACE body construction absorbed every single bit of the impact whereby the recovery was instant and highly controlled, thus preventing any additional damage or harm to me or the vehicle as a result of being pushed into other traffic on the street. Instant full stop, no movement, roll, sliding, etc. One second I was going 35mpg, the next second I was at a complete stop with the airbags in my face (and feet). and I was still completely in my lane. This is definitely one area of the RLX that they did a tremendous job in the design.

 

Wow. You're going to make me hit the books on this!

I thought CMBS engaged the brakes briskly and moderately hard, but not enough to be sure you'd stop in time, and not enough to upset things in the car if it is a false alarm.

 

I cant recall the brakes ever being engaged but I could be wrong. All I know for certain is that the throttle definitely gets disengaged. The other thing Ive noticed when the throttle disengages, is you get several brisk (and aggressive) tugs on the seatbelt from the pretensioner system to get your attention along with the warning indicators.

I believe the seatbelt tugs are another function that belongs to FCW.

 

Page 427 of the Sport Hybrid manual says that at "Stage Three" the brakes are "forcefully applied."

 

Ah! Ok. I'm guessing I'm not hitting "stage three" in the stop-n-go traffic situations.

In the case of my accident, I clearly blew right past stage three, lol. FCW and CMBS both didn't even have a chance to do anything.

 

Interesting, the owners manuals links on the Acura Connect iPhone app only point to manuals for the Sport-Hybrid. I even browsed to the "Acura Owners" section of the Acura.com website, and same thing, Sport-Hybrid manuals only. PAWS manuals nowhere to be found...

 

Is this feature only on advance model?

 

Several times. The car warns with lights, then tightens belt, then applies brakes, and then FORCEFULLY tries to stop. The TRICK to using it and fool it to work ALL the time is to have the ACC on. I have LKAS and ACC on even when around town. I change the distance to minimum (one bar showing behind the car on the display). The car brakes and accelerates on its OWN and will have CMBS work the way it is intended to. Has warned and given me reaction time on MANY occasions--to the point where my family wonders why the car is not beeping when there are "unexpected" events in front or to the side of the car (such as people cutting in at the very last minute). I have and Advance model and I love the safety built into the car BUT I know I can turn the nannies off when I go into GRRRSPORTGRRR mode.

 

I have to say that I kind of get a kick out of the seatbelt tightening feature. It is a bit like the car telling me, "Good one" as I'm going around a corner at some ridiculous speed.

 

I too like how it mildly tightens up as you get more aggressive with how you drive the car (e.g. rapid speed increases, tight turns, etc)

Keep in mind the seat-belt tightening is different from the CMBS seat-belt "tugs" that you get when entering a potential collision situation. I remember the first time getting the "tugs" and it scared the beejezus out of me. It literally feels like someone reached their hand in the window and started pulling the seat-belt on you rapidly and aggressively.