Advanced Cruise Control (ACC) concerns an `ordinary' cruise control in which the desired speed is fixed manually, but also in which the headway to the vehicle in front is taken into account. Such an ACC system is meant for use on rural roads that are not too busy. The system is not meant to avoid a collision under critical circumstances. Positive and negative road safety effects can be expected from ACC systems. Several practical experiments with ACC systems showed that drivers could behave safely with them. Speeds also appeared to become more homogenous, and there was less braking. However, drivers had more the inclination to change lanes in order not to have any more vehicles in front. They also paid less attention to, for example, pedestrians. The system also appeared not to observe small vehicles. A survey of subjects showed that many of them had doubts about the system; they did not feel safe with ACC. The possibility of being able to disengage the system had to exist; and they only wanted the system if it worked perfectly. ACC systems are expected to be for sale in the short term, starting with the more expensive vehicles.
Abstract