Learn More About Adaptive Cruise Control in the 2015 Chrysler 300

Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive Cruise Control is the next logical step on the road to completely autonomous vehicles. Rather than maintaining speed in isolation, a vehicle with adaptive cruise control can actually react to the traffic around it. The key to adaptive cruise control is the presence of a sensor, usually radar--based, that can not only measure the distance to the vehicle ahead, but also the rate of closure. This means that an adaptive cruise control-equipped vehicle can automatically slow down when the car ahead does; without driver intervention. It also means that if the driver changes lanes to an open one, the car automatically resumes speed. Most adaptive cruise control systems also allow the driver to set the following distance to the limits of the system's range, which is usually about 500 feet. While the majority of adaptive cruise control systems use radar, there are a few that use lidar or even cameras. Regardless of the sensor system involved, all systems provide essentially the same functionality.

Benefits of Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive cruise control provides a number of benefits, not all of which are obvious at first glance. The first and simplest benefit is of course that a vehicle with adaptive cruise control can automatically slow down when the car ahead of it does, which reduces the chance of rear-end collisions. What is less obvious is that the presence of adaptive cruise control also appears to improve traffic flow. According to the simulations, the presence of adaptive cruise control in as few as one-quarter of all vehicles on the road can lead to a marked improvement in traffic flow. In fact, the figures indicate that at 25 percent penetration, there would be a 20 percent decrease in traffic delays, and that 37.5 percent of motorists would have improved travel times. It is one of the few automotive accessories that can benefit those who do not have it as well as those who do.

For those people who are not sure about whether to stick with conventional cruise control or to make the jump to adaptive cruise control, the following table should help them make a decision.

Benefit	Conventional	Adaptive
Maintain Constant Speed	Yes	Yes
Reduce Driver Fatigue	Yes	Yes
Improve Fuel Economy	Yes	Yes
Manage Following Distance	No	Yes
Reduce Rear-End Collisions	No	Yes
Reduce Traffic Congestion	No	Yes