Stephen Schultz | December 6, 2025 | Car Accidents
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is a modern version of cruise control. In its original incarnation, cruise control allows your vehicle to maintain a set speed even while your foot isn’t operating the pedals.
ACC takes this idea to a new level. Instead of maintaining a set speed, this technology keeps a set distance from the car in front of you. This means that your car will automatically accelerate or decelerate to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle you are following.
On paper, this appears to be a great technology for highway travel. Is it safe to use, though? Keep reading to learn more.
Benefits Associated with Adaptive Cruise Control
ACC brings a few obvious benefits to drivers—some of the biggest strengths include:
- It can make driving less strenuous. Like traditional cruise control, ACC can reduce the cognitive load on the driver by taking over control of the vehicle’s acceleration and braking.
- It can prevent some accidents. ACC technology is built to adapt to its immediate surroundings, making it easier to consistently maintain a safe distance from the car in front of it.
- It can reduce the frequency of speeding violations. Like traditional cruise control, ACC enables the driver to set a consistent speed for the car to maintain. Some ACC systems include technology that recognizes road signs, thereby increasing compliance with local speed limits without relying on the driver.
Drivers can likely anticipate additional benefits as ACC technology continues to advance in the coming decades.
Potential Pitfalls of Adaptive Cruise Control
ACC can be effective when used carefully, but, like any technology, there are some major potential dangers associated with its use:
Not Fully Autonomous
Drivers may not realize that ACC generally cannot fully replace the driver when it comes to vehicle systems like steering. Similar to traditional cruise control, ACC should never be used on city streets or other roadways that require frequent stopping or lane changes. ACC is unable to steer the vehicle, also making it potentially dangerous to use on curvy roads.
Increased Risk of Distracted Driving
Studies on ACC’s effect on crash risks suggest an elevated accident risk for drivers using this technology, and distracted driving is a key concern in these instances. Because ACC reduces some of the cognitive load on the driver, some drivers believe it can prevent distracted driving accidents entirely. Unfortunately, it can’t.
ACC is generally not able to maintain your lane position or change lanes properly if the car in front of you suddenly stops. These are things that the driver must do. If they look away from the road, even for just a few seconds, they become susceptible to these dangers.
Undetected System Malfunction
Is your ACC not working? Drivers may not always know when this technology isn’t functioning. However, when it stops working mid-drive, they may be more likely to be involved in a rear-end accident.
This technology relies on cameras and sensors to maintain a proper distance. If any of this equipment fails, the system should warn the driver. Technology isn’t perfect, though, so it might not, especially if the system isn’t aware of a failure.
Decreased Function in Bad Weather
Bad weather presents one of the biggest dangers. The sensors and cameras often struggle to determine distance in rain, fog, or even when it is overcast. Furthermore, just as with standard cruise control, you shouldn’t use this technology when the roads are slick. ACC can’t maintain traction as well as a person driving carefully can.
Contact Our St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
While ACC removes significant cognitive load, it doesn’t allow you to take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel. You still need to pay attention while driving and be prepared for emergencies. If you follow these instructions, ACC can be a safe option that makes driving easier.
If you get into a wreck involving ACC, call our St. Louis car accident lawyers at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Car accidents can change your life in an instant. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, call Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers now to schedule a free consultation with a St. Louis car accident attorney. We’ll review your case for free and help you take the next steps toward justice and recovery.
Contact the attorneys at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation, we proudly serve all throughout Missouri, including St. Louis County and Boone County and we have offices in St. Louis, Ladue, Columbia, Creve Coeur.
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Louis Office
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Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Ladue Office
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