Driver Facing Cameras

No it was not an intersection and without the cruise on the natural tendency would be to remain on the throttle as I was just driving down the road. A normal two lane road with light traffic and the occasional passing lane built in and an occasional left turn built in. Cruise on or off would normally make no difference. The adaptive cruise is simply a tool available to the driver. I understand YOU wouldn't have used used it but those that would have used it would not have been wrong to do so as it's just a tool at our disposal. That's why it's there. The point was the computer sometimes has a glitch and the camera catches it. Not a reflection of my driving and not an unsafe act to use the cruise control setting. If I never use cruise control again on any road at any speed, just drive the truck, it might never happen again but doesn't mean I should never use cruise again. I wouldn't use it if it were unsafe in the normal condition it's being used in. I can't predict when it chooses to glitch. I can't not use any computer controlled functions on this truck because the computer might glitch.

I am honestly beginning to feel like you dont like me for some reason I can't/dont understand.

G-Town, the Adaptive Cruise Control on the 2017 Freightliners I drove is different than the older "Cruise Control" which just keeps you at a set minimum speed.

Yes, the newer ACC does adapt your speed to the slower vehicle in front of you, keeping you from creeping up on the 1mph slower Schneider truck ahead of you. On downhills the ACC will also bring on the Jakes as needed when your speed increases a few mph over your set speed. This is so smooth it's almost un-noticeable. And this makes for a good reason to use ACC on hills.

Note: the ACC works fine on the hills on the Ozarks, but I don't know how well it will work on a real mountain pass. Of course the driver had better be paying attention at any rate.

I've always disliked using cruise in general.. never bothered using it in my personal vehicle either.

That said, all of our trucks at West Side have adaptive cruise control. Even the older ones. If traffic slows, it will slow the truck down and once it speeds up again, so will the truck.

Ok so enter in my 2019 Cascadia with all the collision avoidance and lane departure crap. The false readings are a complete nuisance. I could imagine with the cameras on board too, the false readings would trigger the camera. A lot.

Yesterday, just for kicks because it was clear and dry, I used the cruise going down Mont Eagle I24 between Nashville and Chattanooga. I was heavy with my forklift load so I set my cruise at 29 mph. Mind you, Mont Eagle is just a speed bump compared to out west or some of the steeper grades in NY, PA, or MD, but the ACC worked very well. I never touched the brakes at all and my speed held steady at 33 mph all the way down.

Now, had roads been potentially slick, I wouldn't have liked the automatic Jake, shifting, and gear changes at all. Unfortunately I manual mode has been locked out on our new trucks, but we can still pop it up it down 1 gear.

[The ACC] will slow the truck down and once it speeds up again, so will the truck.

Once for grins, and with my foot hovering on the brake pedal, I allowed the ACC to control speed/ following distance all the way down till the traffic slowed and came to a stop. It worked almost to zero mph.

I could imagine with the cameras on board too, the false readings would trigger the camera. A lot.

So true. That's how I got caught eating Oreos.

Now, had roads been potentially slick, I wouldn't have liked the automatic Jake, shifting, and gear changes at all.

This is when the ACC gets switched off, for sure.

Michael wrote:

I am honestly beginning to feel like you dont like me for some reason I can't/dont understand.

Not true. Having read your last reply it’s clear you thought it through and my initial understanding wasn’t totally correct. I apologize for my misunderstanding.

Okay, so I am definitely an advocate of cruise, love it. As Errol pointed out it’s quite effective and although I am driving nothing but 2016 Shakers, Adaptive Cruise works the same (possibly not as refined) as described for the 2017 and later models. I use it exactly as he described...and as Susan just posted.

I’ve seen a lot of things go wrong out here. Many of us have. I just do not use cruise on secondary roads of any kind. No one especially a rookie driver will convince me otherwise. Too many variables, too easy to drive beyond the sight line requiring adjustments that cruise will not adapt to. I prefer to drive the truck on locals and secondaries. That’s me, and my safety record supports that approach. I do however use it exclusively on the interstates and other high speed limited access highways and only in dry conditions.

The only point I’m not backing down on is approaching a turning vehicle...please consider slowing down. Prepare for this driver to do something unexpected, something stupid and not yield to your approach.

As I closed my last reply to you Michael, “take lol if this for what it’s worth, I’m only trying to help you”.

For those who are new at this, take heed to what's said in this statement...

I’ve seen a lot of things go wrong out here. Many of us have. I just do not use cruise on secondary roads of any kind. No one especially a rookie driver will convince me otherwise. Too many variables, too easy to drive beyond the sight line requiring adjustments that cruise will not adapt to. I prefer to drive the truck on locals and secondaries. That’s me, and my safety record supports that approach. I do however use it exclusively on the interstates and other high speed limited access highways and only in dry conditions.

Once you've gained a good bit of experience out here you begin to anticipate trouble and/or know where it is most likely to occur. Secondary roads carry a lot of extra variables and most experienced drivers will operate differently on them. I concur with all of G-Town's comments, and run quite a lot in the same areas as he.

His remarks have nothing to do with disliking anyone, but they do illustrate the cautious approach professionals take when they are on roadways where there may be less traffic but more reasons to be on a higher sense of alert.

Cool G-town and I do appreciate that you are trying to help not only me but all drivers here new and experienced alike. As for the car that was turning, he wasn't crossing in front of me, he was going the same direction as me crossing the other lane. But Like many drivers I have come to expect the 4 wheelers to always do something stupid! If I anticipate stupid actions from them all the time I'm more prepared when they prove me right...lol