Safety Sense has Trouble in Snow

Park assist was the first to go for me, message popped up on the dashboard.

 

I was wondering about that.

We also get a lot of fog and wild animals wandering in the road [moose, deer, bear, turkey] Just this past week I have had to stop 3 times for critters as they cross the road. I hope that Safety Sense will be able to sense critters in the fog.

We got our Prime a week and a half ago, and only yesterday were we able to get the winter studded tires installed. We are excited to be able to start driving it now.

 

OM, Page 394

Situations unsuitable for dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range

Do not use dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range in any of the following situations.

Doing so may result in inappropriate speed control and could cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.

●Roads where there are pedestrians, cyclers, etc.
●In heavy traffic
●On roads with sharp bends
●On winding roads
●On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
●On steep downhills, or where there are sudden changes between sharp up
and down gradients
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
●At entrances to freeways and highways
●When weather conditions are bad enough that they may prevent the sensors
from detecting correctly (fog, snow, sandstorm, heavy rain, etc.)
●When there is rain, snow, etc. on the front surface of the radar sensor or
camera sensor
●In traffic conditions that require frequent repeated acceleration and deceleration
●When your vehicle is during emergency towing
●When an approach warning buzzer is heard often

 

Why, oh why, were you using any form of cruise control in the snow in the first place?

This sounds like another case of driver expectations getting ahead of the consumer market technology, just like the Tesla 'autopilot' crash.

The following item also demands highlighting or boldface for this thread:

 

When it snows now I just stay home.

 

Correct - never use cruise control in any sort of slippery or potentially slippery conditions. Such conditions require the steadiest possible throttle control and cruise control won't do that, it'll just maintain speed. Adaptive cruise is even worse because it will alter speed as well.

 

I'm suspecting that TC and VSC will compensate or cover some of the foul weather hazards of old style CC. But not well enough to make use of even current CCs an acceptable driving practice in such conditions.

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We can't 'rely' on these features until we have true self-driving cars. They won't be available until at least 2020.

 

My 2004 has both of those. Actually, TC is annoying and of negative value in many situations.

Right.

 

Absolutely. CC of any kind should not be used in snow or icy or even rainy conditions. What's CC going to do when you start hydroplaning? By the time you cancel it and try to take control, it may be too late.

Here's another PSA - for those with 4WD... never use it above 45 MPH - 1st the drive train isn't designed for it, 2nd, it's not safe. If you need 4WD you shouldn't be going over 45 MPH.

AWD is a different story for the design aspect, but again, with AWD think about it like you had 2WD - if you thought you would need 4WD in bad conditions, SLOW DOWN!!!!

 

I use AWD generally below 15mph. Doesn't help you stop. That's why I like the E-Four option for the G4 Prius. It's just for lower speeds and should have plenty of power for that purpose because of its very low gearing and despite its very low power rating.

 

Using B mode is okay, but be aware it only engages the front wheels, same as lightly using the brake pedal.

 

There are several long threads about the B mode. Not recommended for use on flat ground.
I have not had any luck with mine. When going down a hill it does not slow the car down, and I am back on the brakes.

 

What does this mean? It certainly works as advertised on my 2004. I didn't try it on a Prime and haven't seen any threads on it.

 

I saw the B mode threads in the Gen3 & Gen4 forums. (The B mode is the same on the Prime?)
On my 2016, I have never felt the B mode slow the car when going down a fairly steep hill of 1/2 to 1 mile long. That's just my personal experience. I have to ride the brakes most of the way down the hill, otherwise my car will keep accelerating. I would sure hate to be going down a snowy or icy hill in my car. That's just my personal opinion. I don't trust the B mode.

 

In Ev mode, B should increase regeneration. On a 2016 liftback, B should increase engine RPM to increase engine braking. It works just fine on my 2004 and I've used it on hills longer than 7 miles.

 

What is this 'snow' that so many of you are going on about?