Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)*

ACC is an optional system designed to assist the driver by maintaining a set speed or a set time interval to the vehicle ahead.

ACC helps provide more relaxed driving on long trips on highways or other major roads in a relatively even flow of traffic.

P5-1507-CitySafety Princip
The camera and radar sensor monitor the distance to the vehicle ahead (generic illustration - certain details may vary from model to model)

The driver sets that desired speed and time interval to the vehicle ahead. When the camera and radar sensor detects a slower moving vehicle ahead, your vehicle's speed is automatically adapted. When there are no longer slower moving vehicles ahead, your vehicle will accelerate to resume the set speed.

ACC is designed to follow a vehicle ahead in the same lane and maintain a time interval to that vehicle set by the driver. If the radar sensor does not detect a vehicle ahead, ACC will instead maintain the speed set by the driver.

ACC is designed to smoothly regulate speed. However, the driver must apply the brakes in situations that require immediate braking such as when there are great differences in speed between vehicles, or if the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly. Due to limitations in the radar sensor, braking may occur unexpectedly or not at all.

Adaptive Cruise Control can follow another vehicle from a standstill up to 125 mph (200 km/h). Always observe posted speed limits.

The driver can also toggle between ACC and Cruise Control (CC) – see the article "Switching between Cruise Control and Adaptive Cruise Control".

 Warning

  • It is advisable to read through all of the related articles pertaining to ACC (see the list at the end of this article).
  • Adaptive Cruise Control cannot cover all driving situations and traffic, weather and road conditions.
  • This system is designed to be a supplementary driving aid. It is not, however, intended to replace the driver's attention and judgement. The driver is responsible for maintaining a safe distance and speed and must intervene if Adaptive Cruise Control does not maintain a suitable speed or suitable distance to the vehicle ahead.
  • Maintenance of ACC components may only be performed by a trained and qualified Volvo technician.

Overview

The distance to the vehicle ahead (in the same lane) is monitored by a radar sensor. Your vehicle's speed is regulated by accelerating and braking. The brakes may emit a sound when they are being modulated by the adaptive cruise control system. This is normal.

 Warning

  • Adaptive Cruise Control is not a collision avoidance system. The driver is always responsible for applying the brakes if the system does not detect another vehicle.
  • Adaptive Cruise Control does not react to people or animals, or small vehicles such as bicycles and motorcycles. It also does not react to slow moving, parked or approaching vehicles, or stationary objects.
  • Do not use Adaptive Cruise Control in demanding driving conditions such as city driving or other heavy traffic situations, in slippery conditions, when there is a great deal of water or slush on the road, during heavy rain or snow, in poor visibility, on winding roads or on highway on- or off-ramps.

Controls

P5-1617-ACC reglage
Function buttons and symbols (generic illustration)
  1. P5-Icon red circle 1Increases the set speed or puts ACC back into active mode (previous settings will be resumed)
  2. P5-Icon red circle 2Puts ACC in active mode and stores the current speed or puts ACC in standby mode
  3. P5-Icon red circle 3 Reduces the set speed
  4. P5-Icon red circle 4Increases the time interval/distance to the vehicle ahead
  5. P5-Icon red circle 5Reduces the time interval/distance to the vehicle ahead
  6. P5-Icon red circle 6Target vehicle indicator: ACC has detected and is following a target vehicle using the set time interval
  7. P5-Icon red circle 7Distance/time indicator

Instrument panel

P5-1507-ACC Mätargrafik
Speed indicators
  1. P5-Icon red circle 1Set speed
  2. P5-Icon red circle 2Speed of the vehicle ahead
  3. P5-Icon red circle 3The current speed of your vehicle

See the article "Adaptive cruise control symbols and messages" for examples of different combinations of symbols, depending on the traffic situation.

Collision warning

P5-1617-v54x-CitySafety Princip m Koll-varning
Audible/visual warning signals
  1. P5-Icon red circle 1Audible warning signal
  2. P5-Icon red circle 2Visual warning symbol
  3. P5-Icon red circle 3Monitoring distance with the camera and radar sensor

Adaptive Cruise Control can exert brake force that is equivalent to approximately 40% of the vehicle's total braking capacity.

In situations requiring more brake force than ACC can provide and if the driver does not apply the brakes, an audible signal from the City Safety system will sound and warning light will illuminate in the windshield to alert the driver to react.

 Warning

Adaptive Cruise Control only warns of vehicles detected by the radar sensor. In some cases there may be no warning or the warning may be delayed. The driver should always apply the brakes when necessary.

Head-up-display*

P5-1507 HUD collision warning
A flashing light alerts the driver

A flashing icon will appear in the head-up display to alert the driver of a collision risk.

 Note

Strong sunlight, reflections, extreme light contrasts, the use of sunglasses, or if the driver is not looking straight ahead may make the visual warning signal in the windshield difficult to see.
  1. * Option/accessory.