Living With Your Adaptive Cruise Control

Using a cruise control to manage speed in traffic certainly is a no-no. In my suggestion, the driver sets the control at a really slow speed, say 12 MPH. This is only to turn on the distance readout.

Thanks for clarifying. I had never tried doing it this way--certainly an interesting idea.

Sorry if it seemed like I was busting your chops over the 3.5 seconds. It's just something I'm anal about. I know you don't this (I even remember you mentioning this briefly when we met) but alot of people jump in a truck and think 1-2 seconds of following distance is A-OK because they're getting ready to pass someone, or someone cut them off, or the other car/truck won't keep their speed constant, etc. But I think keeping proper following distance is the single most important discipline/skill a driver should develop. So, naturally, I get upset when it seems like (now I can see this isn't what you were recommending) someone is advising other drivers to keep the bare minimum following distance simply because it's more convenient with our modern technology. A professional driver should always err on the side of caution and keep more distance rather than less. Four to six seconds (or more) is a far better goal and totally attainable even in traffic.

Anyways, thanks again for clarifying!

Even though I'm in no position to know anything about this, from what I understand if you set your cruise to, say, 50. If the car in front of you goes faster than 50 (like, maybe 55-60), the truck won't speed up to maintain 3.5 sec distance. It'll just stay at 50, while the following distance in front of you greatens.

Is this right? Just trying to contribute in some way to the conversation...

Dumb question...

When the system slaps on the Jake in response to a vehicle slowing in front of you.....

Do the brake lights come on?

***Asking for a friend

Linden asks:

Even though I'm in no position to know anything about this, from what I understand if you set your cruise to, say, 50. If the car in front of you goes faster than 50 (like, maybe 55-60), the truck won't speed up to maintain 3.5 sec distance. It'll just stay at 50, while the following distance in front of you greatens.

Is this right? Just trying to contribute in some way to the conversation...

Correct. It only maintains the 3.5 seconds if the vehicle in front of you is going slower than your set cruise speed.

MC asks:

Dumb question...

When the system slaps on the Jake in response to a vehicle slowing in front of you.....

Do the brake lights come on?

***Asking for a friend

It actually depends on the make of the truck and what the parameters are set to. Freightliner trucks have a parameter that can be set to have the brake lights turn on when the Jake brake is engaged. I don't think it was turned on in any of the Freightliners I ever drove though. As far as I am aware, Freightliners are the only ones like this, but don't quote me on that.