Summary

• AI-based cruise control can reduce workload on highways but does not make driving safer by itself.
• Most “partial automation” systems (Level 2) need constant driver supervision.
• Independent tests show big gaps in driver monitoring and misuse prevention.
• Main takeaway: Safe when used as designed, risky when overtrusted or misused.

Short answer: AI-based cruise control systems are conditionally safe when you stay engaged, know the limits, and use them where they’re designed to work. These features include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), lane centering, and “highway assist” packages. They automate speed and steering on certain roads but still rely on you to supervise at all times. Regulators and safety labs say the most important factor is how well a system keeps the driver attentive and how clearly it limits use. Recent ratings and investigations show uneven safeguards across brands. 

What is AI-based cruise control?

AI-based cruise control is software that manages speed and following distance (ACC) and often keeps your car centered in its lane (lane centering). These features together are called Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The human driver remains responsible for the driving task at all times. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines Level 2 as providing both speed and steering assistance with full driver supervision.

Automakers use cameras, radar, maps, and on‑board AI to predict gaps, hold lanes, and smooth traffic. But they are driver support tools, not self-driving. Independent labs emphasize strong driver monitoring to prevent misuse. 

In 2024, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) launched a ratings program for partial automation safeguards; only 1 of 14 systems earned “acceptable,” none earned “good.” Most were “marginal” or “poor,” showing industry-wide room to improve attention management. 

How do AI cruise control systems work on highways today?

They fuse sensor inputs and simple road rules to control speed and steering within an Operational Design Domain (ODD) such as divided highways with clear lane lines. A driver monitoring camera and steering‑wheel sensors check that you’re watching the road and ready to take over. The best systems escalate alerts and can slow to a stop if you don’t respond. IIHS calls these “safeguards” and tests for them directly.

What happens when conditions fall outside the ODD?

Lines fade, weather degrades sensors, or cut‑ins occur; the car may warn, disengage, or hand back control. Systems vary in how quickly and clearly they do this, which is why safeguard ratings and brand differences matter.

Why is safety uneven across brands and models?

Safety depends on three things: where the system allows activation, how it keeps you engaged, and what it does in emergencies. IIHS found most systems don’t do enough to keep drivers attentive or to prevent misuse, which can lead to overreliance and delayed reactions. 

After a large recall of Autopilot software in December 2023, U.S. regulators continued scrutinizing the effectiveness of the fix in 2024 because crashes still occurred with driver misuse. That shows how critical robust driver monitoring and clear limits are. 

What do crash reports and tests actually show about safety?

• NHTSA collects monthly crash reports for Level 2 ADAS. The agency cautions that these data aren’t normalized by miles driven and can reflect telematics differences between automakers, so raw counts don’t equal risk rates. Use them for patterns, not league tables. 
• IIHS safeguard results (2024) show only one “acceptable” system out of 14 evaluated; the rest were “marginal” or “poor,” indicating widespread gaps in preventing misuse and keeping drivers engaged.
• News coverage of federal actions in 2024 reported at least 13 fatal crashes where Autopilot was involved and driver engagement was inadequate, prompting a recall and a follow‑on probe into the fix’s effectiveness. 

AI cruise control vs. traditional cruise control: what’s the key difference?

The key difference is steering assistance and driver monitoring. Traditional cruise holds speed only; AI-based systems also manage distance and often steering, but they require you to supervise continuously.

Comparison

Traditional cruise control

• What it does: Holds a set speed
• Driver role: Steer and brake at all times
• Pros: Simple, predictable
• Cons: No help with traffic or lane keeping

AI-based cruise control (Level 2 “highway assist”)

• What it does: Holds speed and gap; centers in lane
• Driver role: Watch the road; be ready to take over instantly
• Pros: Reduces workload; smoother car‑following
• Cons: Overtrust risk; performance varies by brand; may disengage suddenly As discussed in What is AI-based cruise control?, Level 2 still requires full driver supervision. 

Best practices for using AI-based cruise control

Numbered step-by-step process

• Step 1: Learn the basics. Read the ODD and limitations in your owner’s manual; know when the system will not work well (faded lanes, heavy rain, sharp curves).
• Step 2: Set conservative gaps. Choose longer following distances than the default to buffer for cut‑ins.
• Step 3: Keep eyes up. Treat alerts as backup, not permission to look away. If you feel tempted to multitask, turn the system off.
• Step 4: Expect handbacks. Keep hands ready; if the car beeps or shows gray lines, take control smoothly—don’t fight the wheel.
• Step 5: Update software. Accept safety updates and calibration prompts; camera-based driver monitoring and alert logic improve over time.

Best practices suggest you also practice re‑engaging after disengagements in a safe place so it’s familiar during a surprise.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Ignoring the system’s limits and using it on roads it wasn’t designed for.
• Treating “hands-on” torque nudges as proof of attention instead of watching the road.
• Following too closely by default; short gaps reduce reaction time.
• Letting alerts escalate to shutdowns; this can create hazards in traffic.
• Assuming “AI cruise” equals self-driving; it does not. 

Are some brands’ systems safer than others right now?

Independent labs see meaningful differences. IIHS’s first safeguard ratings show that most current systems need stronger driver monitoring, faster escalating alerts, and better lockout behavior after misuse. Shoppers should look for gaze‑based monitoring, lane-line discipline, and strict limits on where the system works.

What about “assisted driving” scores outside the U.S.?

Euro NCAP’s Assisted Driving Gradings evaluate highway‑assist balance between driver engagement, assistance, and safety backup. Results vary by model year and brand, reflecting how quickly designs evolve. Check the latest model‑specific grading when you shop.

Are there known incidents with GM Super Cruise?

General Motors’ Super Cruise pairs hands‑off lane centering with an in‑cabin camera to watch your eyes and uses mapped highways to define where it can operate. Independent U.S. ratings in 2024 categorized its safeguards as “marginal,” indicating room to improve attention management. For a plain‑English overview of incident examples and legal context, see Super Cruise accidents.

How does training affect real-world safety?

According to recent research, most drivers get little formal training on partial automation and don’t always use features as intended. AAA Foundation’s 2025 work focuses on training that drivers will actually complete, because better onboarding reduces misuse and confusion. Earlier AAA studies also found behavior and attention change over weeks of use, sometimes lowering vigilance.

Statistics snapshot (recent data points)

• 1 of 14 systems earned “acceptable” in IIHS’s first safeguard ratings (March 2024); none earned “good.” 
• NHTSA posts monthly Level 2 ADAS crash reports but warns counts aren’t normalized by exposure, so don’t treat them as league tables. 
• U.S. regulators tied at least 13 fatal crashes to misuse with Autopilot involvement over several years, prompting a major recall and continued oversight in 2024.
• Euro NCAP’s Assisted Driving Gradings show wide variation across brands and model years; check the latest score for the exact vehicle. 

Definition box: key terms

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): Holds speed and following distance using sensors.
• Lane Centering: Keeps the vehicle near the middle of a lane using steering assist.
• Level 2 (L2) ADAS: Simultaneous speed and steering assist; the human remains responsible for driving at all times. 
• Driver Monitoring: Camera and/or wheel‑torque checks to confirm attention; stronger systems watch eye‑gaze and escalate alerts. 

Key takeaways

• The most important factor is you: these systems are driver assistance, not autonomy.
• Look for strong driver monitoring and clear limits on where the system works.
• Treat ratings and recalls as signals; designs evolve and vary by model year.
• In summary, AI-based cruise control can be safe and helpful when used as designed—with eyes up, hands ready, and extra following distance.