Driving
62
Fine adjustment of desired speed
In the activated state, the desired speed
increases by 1 mph/1 km/h each time button4
is pressed briefly.
Select distance
You can choose from four distance steps.
>Rotary switch downward:
Increase distance
>Rotary switch upward:
Decrease distance
The selected distance is displayed in the instru-
ment cluster. Distance 1
Distance 2
Distance 3
This distance is always set when
the system is used for the first time
after starting the engine.
Distance 4
Use good judgment to select the appro-
priate following distance given road con-
ditions, traffic, applicable laws and driving rec-
ommendations for safe following distance.<
Things to know about active cruise control
As with conventional cruise control sys-
tems, active cruise control in no way
diminishes or substitutes for the driver's own
personal responsibility, alertness and aware-
ness in adjusting speed, braking or otherwise
controlling the vehicle. The driver should
decide when to use the system on the basis of
road, traffic, visibility, and weather conditions.
Active cruise control is intended for use on
highway-type roadways where traffic is moving
relatively smoothly. Do not use this system in
city driving; heavy traffic such as during rush hour; on curvy, winding roads, slippery roads or
roads with sharp curves such as highway off-
ramps; during inclement weather such as snow,
strong rain or fog; or when entering inter-
changes, service/parking areas or toll booths.
It is also important to regulate your vehicle's
speed and distance setting within applicable
legal limits. Always be ready to take action or
apply the brakes if necessary, especially when
the system is actively following a vehicle in front
of you.<
Driving
64
Driver interventions
Anytime the driver presses down on the
accelerator pedal, any automatic braking
action by the system is interrupted until the
pedal is fully released. After doing this, release
the accelerator and the system again controls
your cruising speed and distance setting. While
driving with activated system, resting your foot
on the accelerator pedal will cause the system
not to brake even if necessary. Be certain that
floormats or other objects on the vehicle floor
do not interfere with movement of the accelera-
tor pedal.<
While active cruise control is capable of
braking your vehicle automatically when
you approach a slower vehicle ahead, it is
important to be aware that the ability of the sys-
tem to apply the brakes is also limited, particu-
larly if you are driving down a steep grade or
when you reduce your desired speed sharply.
The system cannot stop your vehicle. It uses
only a portion of braking system capacity and
does not utilize the full capacity of the vehicle
braking system. Therefore, the system cannot
decrease your speed for large differences in
speed between your vehicle and the vehicle
ahead. Examples: during emergency braking,
when you approach a vehicle traveling at a
much lower speed than your own speed such as
approaching a toll booth or when a much slower
vehicle cuts in front of you at close range.<
Whenever active cruise control
recognizes a situation that requires
driver braking because the system
capacity has been reached or has
been exceeded, the system alerts
the driver by flashing this symbol in the instru-
ment cluster and sounding a signal.
Swerving vehicles
When a vehicle moves from an adjacent lane
into your lane, active cruise control will not rec-
ognize this vehicle until it is fully in your lane
ahead of your vehicle.
Malfunction
The indicator lamp lights up and a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display.
The build-up of foreign matter, e. g.,
snow, ice, dirt, road debris etc., can lead to
reduced detection performance of active cruise
control. You should check the sensor under the
front bumper and clean it as necessary prior to
driving your vehicle. If the sensor becomes cov-
ered by foreign matter or has a malfunction, it is
possible that the sensor will no longer be able to
detect vehicles in front of you. After the system
recognizes that the sensor is no longer func-
tional, a message is displayed on the Control
Display and an acoustic signal is emitted.
When the system does not recognize any
objects, e.g. on infrequently traveled roads
without a shoulder or guard rails, the system
can automatically deactivate temporarily.
