Embracing Safety: The Marvels of GMC’s Adaptive Cruise Control

Safety on the road

Introduction:

I hope your Summer is off to a great start and also that you have plenty of  Robertson’s Road Trips  planned for this upcoming season. Tis the season for day tripping, road tripping and hitting  The Road Less Traveled and it is for this reason I wanted to share with you a short story about technology, safety and how lucky we are as a dealership to be working with a manufacturing partner like GMC.

This Blog Article written by Ali Robertson

Adaptive Cruise Control:

In today’s fast-paced world, new technology often emerges, even evolves, before we eventually understand and then fully grasp its potential. For me this was the case with GMC’s Adaptive Cruise Control. While the Adaptive Cruise technology has been available for some time, its true value may not always be immediately apparent. This was the case with me until just recently when one of our tenured sales consultants experienced a situation that underscored the importance of adaptive cruise vs that of traditional cruise control.

A Real Life Short Story:

On a warm sunny afternoon last summer one of our sales reps was on a trip to North Grafton Mass to pick up a vehicle from a customer. An hour and a half to make the 75 mile trip from Wareham there was nothing remarkable about this mission, less that it was one of those warm late summer afternoons with the hot sun shining bright in the sky. As anyone who’s driven in such conditions knows, the glare of the sun, the sights and sounds and humming of the highway, can lull a driver into a drowsy hypnotic state that sometimes is hard to shake off. We have all been there, you flip your Sirius XM radio from Coffee House to Ozzy’s Boneyard and crank up the volume as you power down your window to catch a faceful of air. Maybe you slide your hand outside the window letting it catch roll into the 75 mile an hour rush of oncoming air like the aileron on a plane.

Again, we have all been there right?

Unfortunately, this proved to be the case for our Robertson rep, who, while North grafton bound, nodded off with his cruise control engaged. The consequences could have been disastrous if not catastrophic. . The vehicle drifted to the left, hit an uneven patch on the side of the highway, soaring into the air at 70 mph. Fortunately, the sudden jolt of going airborne jarred him awake triggering the reaction of stepping hard on the brakes. Immediately upon braking his cruise control disengaged, and the vehicle returned to earth coming to a stop several yards past the guardrail on the opposite side of the highway. It was a miracle that he avoided any collisions or other catastrophe, and with dust settled and cobwebs clearing he maneuvered back onto the road and continued his journey unscathed and very, very lucky.

You know that little message in your side mirror that says, “Objects in the rear view mirror are larger than they appear” ….. Well in this case that is an understatement for sure.

Reflecting on this incident, it’s unsettling to think about how many accidents might occur due to reliance on conventional cruise control. In this instance, the cruise control failed to disengage until the brakes were applied, a potentially terrifying realization depending on the scenario. Had the vehicle been equipped with adaptive cruise control, the outcome could have been very different. The system’s ability to automatically adjust speed in response to traffic conditions would have alerted our rep in advance, potentially averting the dangerous situation altogether.

Reliability and effectiveness of modern automotive technology:

As someone who lives and breathes, and whose core business is to find a the perfect vehicle match for our customers, it’s important that we do everything we can at the dealership level to ensure everyone’s well-being behind the wheel.

I want to reiterate that GMC’s Adaptive Cruise Control is more than just a convenient feature or another button, bell or whistle for whistles sake. Adaptive Cruise can be a lifesaver, a cutting-edge technology designed to alleviate the burden of constant speed adjustments and to enhance overall driving safety. By harnessing the power of advanced sensors and intelligent algorithms, this innovative technology revolutionizes the way we approach driving, making our roads safer for everyone.

I hope you will think about this the next time you are packed up and loading the family for a Vermont Green Forest adventure, a trip to the White Mountains, Maine Lakes Region or even a Camping Adventure on Cape Cod. Whatever your excursion or adventure, remember to buckle up, stay vigilant, and let GMC’s Adaptive Cruise Control take care of the rest.

Safe Travels My Friends !!!

Ali Robertson