Curves Ahead
Advanced driver assistance technologies such as adaptive cruise control (ACC) and other more advanced partially automated vehicle systems can be thrown off by literal curves in the road. This puts a limit on the systems’ ability to increase road safety, according to a recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
ACC and more sophisticated partially automated systems that combine lane-centering with ACC often become disabled on sharper road curves. Drivers may switch off the features, or they may automatically deactivate. Either way, the technology will only prevent future collisions if they are used. The safety features can only reach their full potential if motorists can trust the systems to handle curves in the road.
What is ACC?
ACC functions similarly to a conventional cruise control system but automatically decreases vehicle speed to keep a predetermined following distance from any leading vehicle. This is so the driver does not have to brake and reset the system. Systems equipped with lane-centering technology include automated steering capabilities that keep the vehicle centered in the lane.
Testing and Results
The IIHS tests looked at Range Rover and Volvo models and found that across the board, the ACC and lane centering (if applicable) were less likely to be activated as road curves became sharper. On average, the features were around 75% less likely to be used on the sharpest curves tested. The researchers did not look at whether the systems were switched off by the driver or if they were automatically deactivated. ACC systems are deactivated when drivers apply the vehicles’ brakes. Lane centering systems can suspend automatically with steering wheel use, when a turn signal is activated, or when its sensors cannot detect lane lines on the roadway.
How the Features Can Help
The fact that these particular driver-assistive features become inactive on sharp curves is a significant limitation because the types of collisions that lane-centering systems are meant to prevent are more likely to happen on curved roads than on straightaways.
A previous study completed by IIHS looked at crashes reported by law enforcement and found that front crash prevention reduced rear-end crash rates by half and cut rear-end collisions that resulted in injuries by 56 percent. ACC systems could increase those reductions because they typically result in vehicles allowing a greater following distance, giving the driver more time to respond to an obstacle or emergency situation ahead.
Another assistive feature not researched in the most current study is the lane departure warning system. This feature alerts the driver if the vehicle drifts from its lane. These systems lower the rates of sideswipe, head-on, and single-vehicle crashes by 11 percent. Using the systems also lowers the rates of injuries in those crashes by 21 percent.
Watch the YouTube video. Ford Motors uploaded a clip posted below, explaining ACC and lane-centering technology.
Grass Valley Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello, and thanks for reading our piece on vehicle automation. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a Grass Valley personal injury lawyer. Major traffic accidents have several causes. They happen on our roads and highways every day, and many cause serious injuries. Some result in wrongful deaths. The aftermath of a significant car crash can be frustrating and frightening. Having an experienced legal advocate on your side to advocate for your personal injury claim can take a lot off your mind. For compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice about a car accident caused by another person’s negligence, call us at (800) 404-5400 or (530) 392-9400.
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Image by Sven Lachmann from Pixabay
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