Question about Driving Accessories

[Big RR]

My wife has a 2020 Volvo Station Wagon which we recently took on a trip. I hadn't driven it much before, but it dis have one very annoying feature--while driving along 95 in traffic I came up over a hill and the traffic had stopped. As i hit the brake the car jammed on the brakes itself and cae to a stop about 15 feet from the car in front of me; the only problem was that ti braked so fast the car behind me, which was close, damn near hit me. Usually, I will brake a bit more slowly and stop closer to the car in front of me, but I think this panic stop can cause more problems than it purports to alleviate. I will look at the manual to see if I can turn it off when I drive it, but I was wondering if anyone else has had experience with a similar system.

FWIW, it also has adaptive headlights which move left and right ahead of the turn (what benefit this gives is beyond me) and turns on the bright automatically (not sure why, because all it seems to do is blind the oncoming driver, not turning them off until the car is almost even with you) and turns off the engine anytime you stop, even if only briefly, but these can be overridden (i really can't see constant stopping ans starting can be good of r the engine).

[MajGenl.Meade]

I use the radar distance/braking thingie on my Toyota Corolla a lot. But it does have that same effect depending on the angles - coming up a rise and over the top to be confronted by stopped traffic does cause it to brake suddenly. Rather useful.

But it does have a problem with a vehicle in front turning right (and with me). My Toyota starts to slow down to maintain a clear distance but I can see that the turning vehicle is going to be out of the way. So I accelerate gently to compensate for the braking. This does not turn off the radar though . . . and what it "sees" is that the object ahead has slowed down but it cannot sense lateral movement. It perceives the arse of that car as a stationary object. And the hard brake occurs. Which annoys me and the vehicle driver behind me

[Big RR]

[But it does have that same effect depending on the angles - coming up a rise and over the top to be confronted by stopped traffic does cause it to brake suddenly. Rather useful./quote]

Perhaps, but if it took account of what is behind it might not brake quite so suddenly and save you from being rear ended.

[Crackpot]

Strictly speaking it’s doing a better job than you. (Outside the braking too hard when the traffic is turning right. I expect that to improve fairly rapidly as next gen autonomous is expected out in a year or two). I’ve managed to get it to panic brake when trying to back over tall grass and pulling under a low hanging tree to park.

[MajGenl.Meade]

[But it does have that same effect depending on the angles - coming up a rise and over the top to be confronted by stopped traffic does cause it to brake suddenly. Rather useful.

Perhaps, but if it took account of what is behind it might not brake quite so suddenly and save you from being rear ended.

But in Ohio that's not your fault. The guy who hit you gets to pay all the damages (if he has insurance/enough insurance). Assured Clear Distance be his problem, not yours

[Big RR]

Sure, but I am looking to avoid accidents/minimize the damage, not absolve myself of blame. I would think that the system could be designed to take this into account, but they went for the simplest and easiest design. FWIW, in all my years of driving, I have never rear ended anyone or had anyone rear end me (even in traffic with sudden stops); sure, you cannot avoid all accidents, but by using proper braking techniques. you can often avoid both front and rear end collisions--panic stopping 10 - 15 feet behind the stopped is not the way to accomplish this and might well lead to more rear end collisions (as would the situation you describe in the left turn lane). Personally, I would much rather drive my car defensively, than let it make decisions and drive me.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Sure, but I am looking to avoid accidents/minimize the damage, not absolve myself of blame.

Clearly you don't live in Ohio

[Big RR]

Well, recalling all those Ohio State Safety Patrol gore movies we watched in Drivers Ed, I guess I can understand. I might be dead right, but I am right nonetheless.