Golf R - automatic post collision braking system

[TNJ]

I have had my Golf R for about three weeks now and am thoroughly enjoying it.

However, I have had a couple of nasty moments with what VW call their "automatic post collision braking system" or "adaptive cruise control" - or what I would rename the automatic cause a collision system. I wonder if anyone else has had a similar incident.

The first time was driving along a residential road at 30mph in busy traffic - a plastic bag blew across the road and must have touched the front of the car. The car obviously thought this was a "collision" and slammed the brakes on!! The car behind nearly went straight into the back of me.

This has happened twice more and feels like an accident waiting to happen.

The blurb from VW says that the system is designed to slow the car to 6mph automatically in the event of a collision or in anticipation of a collision. Sounds ok in theory but the car doesn't seem able to determine what is actually a collision - are the sensors just very sensitive in mine or is this a common occurrence?

I would be interested to know if anyone else has experienced this or if it is something that can be adjusted (ie turned off!).

Edited by TNJ on Monday 25th August 14:04

[zeduffman]

I've heard of this happening to a few people and it seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Does it help get better scores in NCAP ratings by any chance?

[Crafty_]

Sorry you are having problems OP.

The manufacturers really do need to stop fitting all this high tech stuff to cars that doesn't work properly, it is fast becoming ridiculous.

[TNJ]

I have done a bit more trawling on Google and it looks like it is the Adaptive Cruise Control that is the problem - I think it can be disabled but I need to understand what other implications this has - ie does it switch off any other safety systems.

Looks like it is a case of the technology sounding good in theory but causing more dangerous problems in practice. It also seems that this system is standard on the R, GTI and GTD so likely to affect a large number of cars.

I wonder if this will cause more accidents than it prevents....

[andrewparker]

I've had a few incidents where the emergency braking has kicking in for a split second when there was no apparent danger of any collision. It's nothing to do with the ACC, it's the CEB system that uses the same radar as the adaptive cruise control. It's also only functional at speeds under 18mph.

I very much doubt there is a way of disabling it, and if there is I'd be worried about the implications to your insurance.

[TNJ]

andrewparker said:

I've had a few incidents where the emergency braking has kicking in for a split second when there was no apparent danger of any collision. It's nothing to do with the ACC, it's the CEB system that uses the same radar as the adaptive cruise control. It's also only functional at speeds under 18mph.

I very much doubt there is a way of disabling it, and if there is I'd be worried about the implications to your insurance.

Interesting - this definitely occurred at 30mph, not less. I was on a road I know well and where there are fairly regular police radar traps so I check my speed very carefully there. The brakes just slammed on, only for a couple of seconds, but enough for me to feel lucky that I wasn't being tailgated.

My wife said it has happened to her as well - not sure what speed she was travelling.

I take your point about insurance - if I intentionally switch off a "safety" feature and then hit someone, maybe the insurance company would pick that up. Not sure if it would be a problem - is it any different to in my RS Clio Where I can press the button for Sport mode or Race mode which disables the traction control, either partly or fully - since I am given the option to do this by the manufacturer, I would have thought it difficult for an insurance company to argue that I am not permitted to put the car in whatever settings I choose.

[furrywoolyhatuk]

My skoda has the same/similar system: two lanes, I'm on the outside, bus on the inside just as the road bends I was going passed the bus (30mph) and the brakes slam on almost causing the car behind from slamming into the back of me.

Saying that the system has saved me on occasions. 40mph and a car pulls out, the system kicked in quicker then I could react.

Swings and roundabouts I guess. The system can however be switched off using the controls on the steering wheel through the display on the control binnacle.

[andrewparker]

TNJ said:

I take your point about insurance - if I intentionally switch off a "safety" feature and then hit someone, maybe the insurance company would pick that up. Not sure if it would be a problem - is it any different to in my RS Clio Where I can press the button for Sport mode or Race mode which disables the traction control, either partly or fully - since I am given the option to do this by the manufacturer, I would have thought it difficult for an insurance company to argue that I am not permitted to put the car in whatever settings I choose.

The big difference is that there is no way of turning CEB off through the cars settings. You can probably do it via VCDS but that's a different scenario altogether.

I'm also pretty confident it has happened to me at over 18mph, though CEB is different to Front Assist which just gives a visual and audible warning. It doesn't actually brake the car.

[Workshy Fop]

Yes I've had that twice. Once when a crisp packet blew in-front of the sensor. Once near a bus. I guess it has no way of telling the object is a 1g crisp packet or a ten ton bus.

It doesn't like buses in general, it often sets of the perimeter sensors when you're a good distance away. Wish I hadn't specced that auto-park thingy.

[jamiehamy]

Post collision Braking and Adaptive Cruise control are two different things.

The former will apply the brakes after a crash - crisp packets don't come into it - you don't generate G-force by hitting a crisp packet.

The Adaptive Cruise Control will stop you running into the back of someone, and might have issues. It can be switched off I believe - as far as I know, you press the button on the end of the LHS stalk, and then press 'Ok' on the right hand wheel spoke to put on/off.

[Kawasicki]

All this has been thought about by very intelligent people. What you are experiencing is not unexpected.

[Pixelpeep7r]

Whilst i hear that it's a problem if the system is reacting to false positives it needs to be noted that if it causes an accident, i.e., someone going in to the back of you then they were traveling too close and therefore would have hit you anyway if you had braked manually.

[Kawasicki]

Pixelpeep7r said:

Whilst i hear that it's a problem if the system is reacting to false positives it needs to be noted that if it causes an accident, i.e., someone going in to the back of you then they were traveling too close and therefore would have hit you anyway if you had braked manually.

Absolutely, everybody should ensure they leave space for emergency braking due to windblown empty crisp packets.

[Pixelpeep7r]

Kawasicki said:

Pixelpeep7r said:

Whilst i hear that it's a problem if the system is reacting to false positives it needs to be noted that if it causes an accident, i.e., someone going in to the back of you then they were traveling too close and therefore would have hit you anyway if you had braked manually.

Absolutely, everybody should ensure they leave space for emergency braking due to windblown empty crisp packets.

That empty crisp packet could have been a dog that ran out in the road. Just because the driver behind doesn't see what you've braked for, doesn't mean they have an obligation to sit too close to you.

Like i said, automatic or manual, if you go into the back of someone (that's sober and not on their phone), even if they brake for NO REASON, it's your fault.

[andrewparker]

Kawasicki said:

Pixelpeep7r said:

Whilst i hear that it's a problem if the system is reacting to false positives it needs to be noted that if it causes an accident, i.e., someone going in to the back of you then they were traveling too close and therefore would have hit you anyway if you had braked manually.

Absolutely, everybody should ensure they leave space for emergency braking due to windblown empty crisp packets.

Is a windblown empty crisp packet any more predictable than a 5-year-old walking down the pavement on his way to school?

[Kawasicki]

andrewparker said:

Kawasicki said:

Pixelpeep7r said:

Whilst i hear that it's a problem if the system is reacting to false positives it needs to be noted that if it causes an accident, i.e., someone going in to the back of you then they were traveling too close and therefore would have hit you anyway if you had braked manually.

Absolutely, everybody should ensure they leave space for emergency braking due to windblown empty crisp packets.

Is a windblown empty crisp packet any more predictable than a 5-year-old walking down the pavement on his way to school?

Yes, I agree we should all be prepared for the vehicle in front to conduct an emergency stop for any reason, whether that reason is apparent/logical/required or not. That's how we should all drive.

[Dblue]

System on my Golf GTD has been of no practical use so far and just been annoying when being driven quickly as it thinks I'm about to crash.

Had a little low speed shunt last week, classic case of being thrown a dummy by a woman in a Mondeo starting then stopping after 2 metres, looked away, looked back and my wet trainer slipped from the brake pedal. System doesn't work in those circumstances so it was of no help. impact was minimal with no damage to Ford and a slight dent in my number plate but the "camera" is now broken.

£1,228 inc VAT to replace a bracket and camera and re-align it !!!!!!!
Unbelieveable. No help at all in the shunt but so vulnerable its untrue. I seriously think I would reconsider ordering a car with the system TBH.

[Kawasicki]

Dblue said:

System on my Golf GTD has been of no practical use so far and just been annoying when being driven quickly as it thinks I'm about to crash.

Had a little low speed shunt last week

Maybe the system is more advanced than you think?

[Dblue]

Kawasicki said:

Dblue said:

System on my Golf GTD has been of no practical use so far and just been annoying when being driven quickly as it thinks I'm about to crash.

Had a little low speed shunt last week

Maybe the system is more advanced than you think?

No, it really isn't. It cries wolf with a sound warning far too often, applies the brakes very rarely and doesn't as I have unfortunately just proved actually stop a very slow speed bump anyway (Whilst remaining hugely vulnerable to the same minor impact)

[Kawasicki]

Dblue said:

No, it really isn't. It cries wolf with a sound warning far too often, applies the brakes very rarely and doesn't as I have unfortunately just proved actually stop a very slow speed bump anyway (Whilst remaining hugely vulnerable to the same minor impact)

I apologise for my poor attempt at winding you up!