The problem is that it may read some situations ad dangerous while they're not... like changing lanes in slow moving traffic or while approaching a traffic light.
I don't know about the US but doing so at less than 1foot from the car in front of you is the norm here... same goes for scooters approaching, overtaking and staying at less than 4foot from you.
These are all situations where you don't need to brake but the system might read as "emergencies".

I never backed into another car... didn't even get close even if they slammed on their brakes.
Perhaps using our brains, which are pretty awesome computers, is the best answer.

 

I'm not disagreeing with you on this statement.

But I do disagree about when you think that it's going to intervene.

It's math. If you are moving at 6mph, and the vehicle can come to a complete stop in 3 feet, then the system would only activate if the car ahead is stopped and you get within 3 feet (probably more like 3.5 feet). If everyone is at 3mph 1 foot from the bumper of the car ahead, the distance between the cars is not diminishing and so the system would not activate. If you are doing 19mph and the car ahead is doing 10mph, and the car needs 10 feet to shed 9mph, the system will kick in if you maintain your 19mph, the car ahead maintains it's 10mph (meaning neither of you reacts), and you hit that 10ft point.

A good driver will not put themselves into a position where it will activate, but it doesn't just arbitrarily try to keep a distance. It's only triggering when it sees that the rate of travel compared to the distance remaining compared to the known maximum braking capacity means that it is no longer possible for a human's interaction to prevent a collision.

Literally anything you do to prevent a collision before reaching that point moves you away from the system activation point. You slow down even a mph, the activation point shrinks. The car ahead gains speed, the activation point not only shrinks (because the difference in speed is shrinking), but the physical distance between the cars is no longer shrinking as fast. If you change lanes or turn to dodge around, the system doesn't activate (it does say "and does not take evasive action). If everyone is 1 inch from the bumper of the car ahead and traveling at the same speed, I'd bet that the system wouldn't activate, because an imminent collision is NOT detected, since there is no closure speed.

 

Yeah, and what if a big black spider drops down from your visor while you are behind another car in heavy traffic????.

Oh thats right Europe does not have big black spiders.

Just in passing I though the relatively new P2299 for Mazda, 'Accelerator Spring Back Malfunction' or Accelerator Pedal to Brake Pedal Position override would interfere with heel tow braking..but it does not.

All the net drama over this 'nanny feature' were wrong.

Having tried it on my MX-5 you actually have to have foot/feet on both pedals for some time before ignition/spark is cut to engine, as soon as one pedal is removed ignition returns to normal...No dash CEL light, but code could be held in PCM.

So like many 'safety' features until you have actually used it you can't really assess it.

 

i highly doubt that the system would throw a car into full braking power with a deer coming out in front of it. Its to assist, not take over.

 

Deers move at > 19mph (assuming the full panic run, if they aren't caught in the headlights), so it would have to be cutting it pretty close, or running toward the front of your car. And the legs might not trigger it anyway if it's a few feet away.

 

Where does a deer come into this?, unless maybe it jumps through your drivers window while driving in heavy traffic and scares the **** out of you as you are about to 'rear end' the car in front of you?

The system is not meant to take control of your driving, as I see it it will ONLY take over IF you fail to react (brake) and slow/stop when behind another 'car'.

I don't see anything wrong with it..so far.