"Safety" Equipment Almost Caused A Wreck

Today was a rough ride. I drive a 19 International and it has the forward radar as part of the adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation system. I don't know if it's a Swift issue or an issue with the system itself but it likes to pick up bridges and start applying the brakes.

Today however, I was driving through Tulsa on I44 in a section with no bridges, no construction, and no traffic at that moment. The radar registered something (a ghost maybe) doing 1 mph in front of the truck and applied full break. The car behind me got a lesson in following too close, but thankfully avoided my DOT bumper.

I'll be getting it checked out when I get through the terminal and will be driving without the cruise control for a few days.

Two things that might help:

- When in cruise on a clear open highway, keep your foot on the throttle. It reduces unexpected turbulence created by these devices.

- There is a “learning” aspect to ACC, over time the braking events will become less prevalent, it won’t mistake something obscure for something actually impeding your forward path. Might take a couple of months...but it will be less sensitive after the initial break-in period.

Getting it checked is definitely a good idea. Ask the mechanic how they are supposed to work based on the settings, so at least you have a base of comparison when it invents an unseen obstruction.

CFI has enough of a problem with our system that they have gotten a software patch.

Keeping my foot on the accelerator helped. Thanks for the tip G-Town

Two things that might help:

- When in cruise on a clear open highway, keep your foot on the throttle. It reduces unexpected turbulence created by these devices.

- There is a “learning” aspect to ACC, over time the braking events will become less prevalent, it won’t mistake something obscure for something actually impeding your forward path. Might take a couple of months...but it will be less sensitive after the initial break-in period.

Getting it checked is definitely a good idea. Ask the mechanic how they are supposed to work based on the settings, so at least you have a base of comparison when it invents an unseen obstruction.

I drive a 19 volvo and my truck will pick up vehicles on curves, but I override it with keeping the foot on the throttle. G-Town has a point maybe over time it will become less sensitive and adapt.

Keep your radar plate clean also. dead bugs, dirt, ice and snow will affect it.

too much and you get a disabled error...just enough debris and it could trip it.