ACC technology is regarded as a key component of future generations of intelligent cars.

The technology enhances passenger safety and convenience as well as increasing road capacity by maintaining optimal separation between vehicles and reducing driver errors.

[2] When combined with another driver assist feature such as lane centering, the vehicle is considered a Level 2 autonomous car.

[41] However, laser-based systems do not detect and track vehicles as reliably in adverse weather conditions due to the fact that fog, or water particles in the air may absorb and or redirect the light emitted from the laser, through absorption, scattering, and reflection.

[42] Laser based ACC systems also have a more difficult time tracking dirty (and therefore non-reflective) vehicles.

Due to the widely distributed beam, radar ACC systems allow for a much wider field of view while still being able to provide accurate measurements of 160+ meters (Roughly 525 feet).

[45] A more recent development is the binocular computer vision system, such as that introduced to the US market in model year 2013 by Subaru.

Radar-based ACC is often sold together with a precrash system,[46] which warns the driver and/or provides brake support if there is a high risk of a collision.

[32] Multi-sensor systems could also take note of traffic signs/signals and not, e.g., violate a red light while following a vehicle that crossed before the signal changed.

Such systems can make earlier, more moderate adjustments to the predicted behavior, improving safety and passenger comfort.

In an episode of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson demonstrated the effectiveness of the system by coming to a complete halt from motorway speeds to a round-about and getting out, without touching the pedals.