Despite the increasing prevalence of ACC-equipped vehicles and users, relying solely on this feature while driving poses significant risks. (Image courtesy of Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – A concerning number of traffic accidents have occurred while vehicles were operating under Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), a feature designed to maintain a set speed and distance from the car ahead, according to recent data from the Korea Expressway Corporation.
The report, released on October 7 by Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-kab of the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, reveals that from 2022 through August 2023, 17 accidents occurred on highways while ACC was engaged, resulting in 15 fatalities.
ACC technology has evolved from simply maintaining a constant speed to more advanced functions, including maintaining a set distance from the vehicle ahead and providing lane departure warnings.
Different automakers market their own versions of this technology: Hyundai and Kia call it Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Toyota uses Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Tesla has Autopilot (AP), and Mercedes-Benz employs Active Distance Assist Distronic (ADAD).
Despite the increasing prevalence of ACC-equipped vehicles and users, relying solely on this feature while driving poses significant risks. The system may fail to detect objects ahead due to weather conditions, road environments, or the characteristics of surrounding objects.
This year alone, nine people have died in eight ACC-related accidents on South Korean highways. In one incident on March 17, a vehicle using ACC collided with a stationary car on the Gochang-Damyang Expressway, resulting in three fatalities.
Another accident on April 8 on the Tongyeong-Daejeon Expressway claimed one life when an ACC-engaged vehicle struck a safety management vehicle in a work zone.
Park emphasized the need for driver vigilance: “It’s crucial to remember that driver assistance devices are just that — assistance. Drivers must remain alert and exercise extra caution for safe operation.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
