Summer in Europe can get extremely hot and humid at times, I was just there in both Italy and France and the weather didn’t feel at all different compared to Malaysia. One thing I noticed whilst driving through both those countries, starting from Milan, through the Italian Riviera until the French Riviera, was the insane traffic. Apparently, everyone decides to drive during summer to their favourite destinations. This is where Volkswagen wants to help their owners, by having a new tech called Traffic Jam Assist.
This new assistance system is available with models utilising the dual clutch gearbox (DSG), such as the Gold, Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touran, Passat, Passat Variant and the new Arteon. Constantly being in stop and go traffic is strenuous for the driver and that is where Traffic Jam Assist comes in. What it does is control these tasks of stopping and starting, and not only does it automate the tedious task, Volkswagen says that it will also help reduce accidents in these type of situations.
How does it do that? Normally the times when a driver is most distracted is when they think everything is running smoothly or slowly. Especially in traffic jams. Although Traffic Jam Assist cannot replace the driver’s need to pay attention, it is nevertheless supportive in stop-and-go traffic and works to create a less stressful holiday journey for everyone on board.
This innovative assistance system works using the ACC Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Assist lane keeping system. The radar sensor in the front end of the vehicle monitors traffic ahead, while the camera in the windscreen tracks the road markings. Using Traffic Jam Assist, the Volkswagen maintains a consistent distance from the car ahead at speeds of up to 60 km/h in stop-and-go traffic while keeping within the appropriate lane of traffic. The driver, of course, can intervene at any time and override the system.
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