Adaptive cruise hidden benefit

To those that mentioned hyroplanning, I thank you for bringing it up. Although I can't remember the last time I had a vehicle do that, I'm not going to set myself up to experience it again while in cruise control mode.

I've answered everyone else's comments to my satisfaction so I'm done here.

 

That is how the automatic emergency braking works. You don't need to be in adaptive cruise for it to work like that.

 

Geez.
I slow down in the heavy rain, I never go faster than my eyes can see. I never use cruise in heavy rain or fog or snow.
Good luck man.

 

I'm grateful that I-95 does not intersect my primary place of residence.

 

Haha…I misread this as saying “Driving 195”, as in 195 mph.

 

I have used it for the same reason. One of those situations where the rain is coming in bursts and the flow of traffic doesn't fully slow when it gets heavy. I have had it kick off though when the rain was too hard

 

Aha, so if I just keep my foot down on the gas my truck will stop for me? Thanks for the tip!!!

 

Where did you folks learn to drive?

 

I never said I don't slow down - I do. Bet even at what you consider to be a safe speed, having to brake suddenly for a car going much slower increases your risk of being rear-ended. The radar can see what you can't and slow down appropriately without having to brake hard.

The collision avoidance system brakes hard when a collision is imminent but as I explained above, sudden braking under those conditions is dangerous and should be avoided. The adaptive cruise just slows down as needed to maintain the distance you choose. Far safer than driving without it and hoping someone hasn't come to a near dead stop ahead of you.

 

Any adverse conditions ... snow, fog, rain ... I may not have to slow down much but I stop depending on automated toys and assume I am responsible.

In some states people get stupid in heavier rain ... slow down to 45 on freeway, turn on flashers ... so at least show THAT much sense. But at that point it is time to get off the freeway because you are too skittish and are a road hazard.

Speaking of legal ... courts will likely NOT accept "radar cruise control SHOULD work in rain!" if depending on it causes an accident.

 

Need for Speed.

 

I don't believe you are understanding what I'm saying. I'm using the radar equipped active cruise to be safer than driving without it, not to be going faster than the average car under these conditions. Unlike driving in clear weather, there's much more disparity in the speed of other cars under these conditions.

 

Over driving your vision and road conditions.

 

That might be /sarc, but I can't tell for sure, so: You could, but it is an auxiliary system that may not work as intended. Think of it as a second set of eyes not a chauffer.

 

Using cruise control in a heavy rain is a good way to lose-control should you hydroplane.
By simply lifting your foot off the pedal you may regain control more quickly... with cruise it's just gonna keep on keeping on.

Then you gotta brake, causing more potential issues.

I'd avoid cruise in the rain, but that's just me.

 

Take this as friendly - how confident are you that cruise computer will maintain control during a hydroplaning event?

I personally am not to the point of calling a reactive system so good that I can disregard proactive behavior.

PS. If the cruise can see farther than you, you are still going way too damn fast.

 

Many of those adding to the "disparity in speed" are probably manually adjusting to constantly changing road conditions, as they should and as you should be. Not the skittish people running flashers at 45 which is wrong, but ...

 

There is a reason full self driving is not available outside of very small markets.

If you need adaptive cruise to slow you down due to lack of visibility, you should not be on the road.

 

Nope. ACC and automatic emergency braking use the exact same sensors and data as well as using the exact same controls in the Taco to affect the work, i.e. throttle reduction and brakes.

Using ACC to see further in front of you than you can actually see (overdriving the road conditions) is relying on a system that is not 100% failsafe.

You may want to rethink your process.

 

i went snowboarding soon after i got my tacoma. it was clear roads like 95% of the way. i came to a part where cars in front were slowing down to turn right off a 2 lane highway. once they were out of the way, the cruise control accelerated pretty hard to get back to speed. around the corner was some ice on the road in the shade blocked by a small hill. the traction control worked super well and i didn't spin out.

it could have been worse.

i dont use cruise control during the winter anymore. only when i know the roads are 100% clear and not much hills.