Many drivers are fascinated by the bells and whistles that promise a comfortable driving experience when purchasing new cars. One feature that has steadily gained popularity in recent years is adaptive cruise control.
Adaptive cruise control is meant to improve standard cruise control and provide a smoother, stress-free ride. Although the technology has benefits, its downsides are plentiful and rarely discussed.
With a 17.6% projected growth rate for the adaptive cruise control market in the next decade, drivers must know how adaptive cruise control can impact their experience, safety, and the risk of car accidents on the road.
The Purpose and Inner Workings of Adaptive Cruise Control
Cruise control technology has existed for decades. Its primary purpose is maintaining a vehicle’s set speed on long drives, requiring only the driver to manually apply the brake or accelerator to change speeds or maintain a proper distance between cars.
Adaptive cruise control is an advanced form of the technology that uses sensors, radars, and cameras to detect other vehicles and automatically adjust speeds based on road conditions. In fact, some adaptive cruise control cars tout a “stop and go” feature designed to offer smooth rides in heavy traffic.
Can Adaptive Cruise Control Be Beneficial?
When discussing adaptive cruise control features, car manufacturers and buyers cite advantages.
For example:
- Maintaining a safe distance helps prevent rear-end collisions
- Mitigating the need to hit the brakes abruptly
- Optimized fuel consumption with a smoother driving experience
- Reduced driver strain and fatigue caused by excessive speed adjustment decisions on long drives
These benefits continue to drive higher adoption rates for adaptive cruise control technology.
Adaptive Cruise Control’s Potential Role in Causing Accidents
While some believe that adaptive cruise control makes driving safer, that hasn’t been every driver’s experience. Unfortunately, the technology has also introduced several new road hazards that are important to discuss.
For example, some adaptive cruise control hazards include:
A Tendency to Speed
A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that drivers using adaptive cruise control are 24% more likely to set their cruise control speeds above the speed limit.
That’s a dangerous behavior that can increase fatal crash risks by as much as 10%, immediately canceling out the technology’s safety benefits.
A False Sense of Security
Drivers using adaptive cruise control features may become overconfident in those aspects’ ability to prevent car and truck accidents.
As a result of that overreliance, drivers may become less vigilant of hazards and feel that it’s okay to entertain distractions or even drive when drowsy.
Possible Technological Limitations
Additionally, drivers may not realize that even the most advanced adaptive cruise control technology has its limits and can occasionally malfunction. Sensors can fail, miscalculate distances, misinterpret traffic conditions, or fail to detect objects and hazards in the road, all of which can lead to unintended braking and car accidents.
Furthermore, adaptive cruise control doesn’t always work well in adverse weather conditions like rain and snow. It may also have trouble navigating complex road conditions and driving situations, such as sharp turns and construction zones, which is yet another issue that can lead to serious injuries in vehicle accidents.
Legal Implications After an Adaptive Cruise Control Accident
Personal injury claims often become more complex when adaptive cruise control malfunctions contribute to an accident. In such cases, the legal process may involve negligence-based claims extending liability beyond the driver to include car manufacturers, third-party parts providers, or software developers.
An experienced attorney can thoroughly investigate by reviewing adaptive cruise control system data, software logs, and expert witness testimony to determine whether technological failure and negligence contributed to the crash.
By pursuing every legal avenue, your lawyer can hold all responsible parties accountable and fight to recover the compensation you deserve.
Contact the Minneapolis Car Accident Attorneys at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Adaptive cruise control is an exciting technology that offers convenience and safety benefits. However, it also presents serious risks—including overconfidence, speeding, and system malfunctions—that drivers must keep in mind.
For more information, please contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Minnesota, including Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Edina.
We proudly serve Hennepin County, Stearns County, and its surrounding areas:
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Minneapolis
825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 615
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(800) 292-1979
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 44.97514068188609, -93.27349979814521
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – St. Cloud
1010 W St Germain St # 320
St Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 255-1000
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 45.55903612908877, -94.16420517306956
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Edina
5200 Willson Rd #203
Edina, MN 55424
(952) 697-5560
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