An ADAS or Advanced Driver Assistance System is a technology that utilizes radar, lidar, cameras, computer imaging, sensors, networking, and other devices. This system is designed to help create a safer driving experience.

AcuraWatch®

Acura’s ADAS is the AcuraWatch®. The main benefit of AcuraWatch® is to help reduce human error, improve the driver’s situational awareness and support better driving habits. And, AcuraWatch® comes standard on every new Acura sedan and SUV – rather than as an extra cost option.

Designed to help drivers avoid collisions or help them with typical driving tasks like parking or driving in heavy traffic, AcuraWatch® features driver assistance systems:

• Lane Keeping Assist
• Road Departure Mitigation

To help avoid a collision or lessen its severity, the system provides alerts that include visual beeps and or steering wheel vibrations. Settings can be adjusted to the driver’s preference or driving conditions.

AcuraWatch® features do, however, require active driver attention and involvement. They do not make an Acura vehicle autonomous or self-driving.

When driving at highway speeds, Acura has two features to help alert drivers and help them stay in a detected lane – Lane Keeping Assist System and Road Departure Mitigation.

Lane Keeping Assist

The Lane Keeping Assist System works between 45 and 90 miles per hour and if the vehicle is drifting out of a detected lane, it can provide tactile and visual alerts.

When Lane Keeping Assist System is turned on, it provides steering input to help keep the vehicle in the middle of a detected lane. It applies torque (force to turn or twist) to the steering to help keep the vehicle between the detected left and right lane lines. The applied torque becomes stronger as the vehicle gets closer to the lane lines. Rapid vibrations of the steering wheel plus a warning display alerts the driver that the vehicle is drifting out of a detected lane.

Lane Keeping Assist can be easily turned on or off. The system also turns off when the vehicle slows below 40 miles per hour and anytime the vehicle is restarted.

Road Departure Mitigation

Should the vehicle cross a lane marking or drive off the roadway, Road Departure Mitigation can detect, alert, and help. Road Departure Mitigation works between 45 and 90 miles per hour on a straight or slightly curved detected road when specific conditions are met. It can provide a visual alert, apply steering torque, and alert you with vibrations of the steering wheel to help you remain within the detected lane.

If the system determines that its steering input is insufficient to keep your vehicle on the roadway, it can apply braking.

Road Departure Mitigation can be customized to suit driver preference or turned off.

1. Press the safety support switch
2. Roll the right selector wheel to the Road Departure Mitigation symbol
3. Push it
4. Select on or off

The setting is retained even if you restart the vehicle.

Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive Cruise Control or ACC can automatically maintain a set speed and following interval from vehicles detected ahead. When the detected vehicle ahead changes speed, ACC adjusts the vehicle’s speed accordingly to maintain separation. ACC works at speeds above 25 miles per hour, but models with Low Speed Follow can maintain the set interval all the way to a complete stop.

When a vehicle is detected ahead, tapping the accelerator re-engages ACC. When traffic begins moving again, the Acura will automatically accelerate and maintain the set interval up to the previously set speed.

To activate ACC:

1. Ensure operating conditions are met
2. Press the ACC button on the steering wheel
3. A white ACC icon will appear in the instrument panel indicating that the system is in standby mode
4. Press the +/- switch down towards set minus
5. When the desired speed is achieved, the ACC icon will then turn green indicating that the system is active

To adjust the set speed, press the +/- switch up or down.

If no vehicle is detected ahead, the vehicle icon in the instrument panel will appear as a dotted outline. When a vehicle is detected ahead, the icon will fill in. Use the interval button on the steering wheel to adjust the following interval. The distance bars in the instrument panel will change.

Accordingly to cancel ACC, simply press the ACC button and the cancel button or simply depress the brake pedal while the vehicle is moving.

It’s important to understand that ACC is a sophisticated convenience feature – not a safety device – and comes with some notable limitations. Driver awareness and control are required at all times.

Lastly ACC relies on a front radar unit and a windshield mounted camera to operate. Dirt, poor weather conditions, and other things could prevent these from working correctly. Should this happen, the system may proactively disable and a warning message will appear on the instrument panel. Once conditions improve, the warnings will clear shortly.

Windshield Replacement Time

The windshield might look like just a big piece of glass, but it’s actually filled with technology. Even though you can’t always see it, there are built-in sensors, specially positioned areas of tint and no tint, heaters, noise reduction layers– the list goes on.

Despite the latest and greatest technology, things still break- especially windshields, which take the brunt of highway-speed abuse from objects like rocks. Not if, but when, it comes time for windshield replacement, there are certain things to know – like the fact that the car’s computer system will need to be re-calibrated.

The more advanced systems, like AcuraWatch® use cameras and usually have special areas of the windshield that the lens “sees” through. If the sensors change position by just a millimeter or degree, it may throw the entire system off. This is one reason why re-calibration is essential after a windshield replacement. A proper recalibration could be the difference between saving a family of four or a deadly accident. Acura’s require a Dual Calibration.