More and more vehicles are being manufactured with adaptive cruise control (ACC), but some safety groups find that this technology is actually being used as a tool to speed. Keep reading to learn how this is happening and what is being done about it. If you have been injured in a car accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
In Some Situations, Drivers Are Much More Likely to Speed when Using ACC
When a driver is using ACC or partial automation that combines with lane centering, they are much more likely to speed than are drivers who do not have either technology. Why? Because when these drivers choose a “set and forget” speed, they often do not adjust it even as the speed limit decreases.
There Are Safety Benefits to Using ACC
However, it is important to note that ACC has some safety benefits. It is essentially a more advanced version of cruise control that we are all used to. It uses sensors to calculate and maintain a following distance from the driver ahead so that drivers do not have to brake when they come up on a car and then change the speed.
When lane centering is used as well, the vehicle automatically keeps its position with a travel lane too. Together these two systems have the potential to significantly reduce accidents, yet this is only if they are used correctly. The truth is that the speed at which a vehicle is traveling is the most important factor that determines whether or not a car accident is fatal.
All that said, research from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has found that there is an overall lower risk of accident with these features, largely because they result in a greater following distance at default settings compared to how far human drivers drive behind vehicles in front of them. They also reduce the number of passing and lane changes.
Limitations of Today’s Systems
The systems that are currently used do not restrict drivers from choosing speeds that are above the legal limit. Likewise, the driver must constantly supervise because the systems cannot handle certain common road issues and driving scenarios.
Putting the Statistics into Perspective
If you just look at the statistics, a person who is using ACC and lane centering will travel an average of one mile per hour faster than someone without them. This might not sound like much, but this equals a ten percent increase in their chance of a fatal accident, according to the most updated accident models.
If you have been involved in a car accident in the Rancho Cucamonga area and you require an experienced personal injury attorney, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
