Maintaining the Set Speed

When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is active, Model S maintains your set cruising speed whenever a vehicle is not detected in front of it. When cruising behind a vehicle, Model S accelerates and decelerates as needed to maintain a chosen following distance, up to the set speed.

You can manually accelerate at any time by pressing the accelerator pedal, but when you release the pedal Model S resumes cruising at the set speed.

Model S also adjusts the cruising speed when entering and exiting curves.

When Model S is actively slowing down to maintain the selected distance from the vehicle ahead, brake lights turn on. You may notice slight movement of the brake pedal. However, when Model S is accelerating, the accelerator pedal does not move.

Changing the Set Speed

Roll the right scroll wheel up to increase, or down to decrease, the set speed.

It may take a few seconds for Model S to reach the new cruising speed.

Adjusting the Following Distance

To adjust the following distance you want to maintain between Model S and a vehicle traveling ahead of you, touch Controls > Self-Driving and customize the Cruise Follow Distance.

The closest following distance is 2.

Each setting corresponds to a time-based distance that represents how long it takes for Model S, from its current location, to reach the location of the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead of you. Traffic-Aware Cruise Control retains your setting until you change it again.

Stopping and Slowdowns

When moving significantly faster than vehicles in adjacent lanes, Model S automatically reduces the driving speed. This is especially helpful in heavy traffic situations or when vehicles are constantly merging into different lanes. When Model S detects other vehicles driving significantly slower, the instrument cluster highlights the adjacent lanes with arrows and detected vehicles in gray, and Model S reduces the driving speed as appropriate. To temporarily override this feature, press the accelerator pedal.

When following a vehicle, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control remains active at low speeds, even when Model S comes to a full stop. For example, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control remains active even if Model S slows down to a complete or near-complete stop in heavy, stop-and-go traffic on a highway. When traffic starts moving more rapidly, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control again accelerates up to the set speed.

Sometimes when Model S is at a full stop, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control goes into a HOLD state. If this happens, briefly press the accelerator pedal to resume cruising.

When the HOLD status is active, the instrument cluster displays the HOLD icon and a message that indicates that you need to resume cruise control.

Model S goes into HOLD state while Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is active in the following circumstances:

• Model S has been at a standstill for 5 minutes.
• Model S detects a pedestrian (the HOLD state may clear when the pedestrian is no longer detected).
• Model S suddenly loses visibility of the vehicle in front of you.
• An obstacle is detected in front of Model S.

Cruising Near or On Exits

When you are cruising near an exit on a controlled-access highway and engage the turn signal toward the off-ramp, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control assumes you are exiting and begins to slow down Model S. If you do not drive onto the off-ramp, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control resumes cruising at the set speed.

In a region with right hand traffic, this occurs only when you engage the right turn signal when driving in the right-most lane within 50 meters of an exit. Likewise in regions with left hand traffic, this occurs when engaging the left turn signal when driving in the left-most lane within 50 meters of an exit.

When cruising onto an on-ramp to a controlled-access highway, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control automatically adjusts the set cruising speed to the speed limit of the highway, plus any offset you have specified.

Overtake Acceleration

Engage the turn signal momentarily to accelerate Model S towards the vehicle ahead of it. By momentarily holding the turn signal, you can quickly accelerate up to your set speed without having to press the accelerator pedal as long as:

• Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is operating and detects a vehicle in front of you.
• No obstacles or vehicles are detected in the target lane.
• Model S is traveling below the set speed, but over 72 km/h.

Model S stops accelerating when you reach your set cruising speed, if changing lanes takes too long, or if Model S gets too close the vehicle ahead. Model S also stops accelerating if you disengage the turn signal.

When cruising 80 km/h or faster, Model S must be in a passing lane to pass a vehicle. If you are in a non-passing lane (to the right of a vehicle in right-hand traffic, or to the left of a vehicle in left-hand traffic), Traffic-Aware Cruise Control prevents you from passing other vehicles. Instead, Model S slows down to match the vehicle’s speed as if it were in the same lane. If you press the accelerator pedal to pass a vehicle, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control allows you to continue passing vehicles when cruising in the non-passing lane, until you either change lanes or cancel and resume cruising (it then prevents you from passing vehicles in a non-passing lane again). You are responsible for complying with all local laws regarding passing other road users and using non-passing lanes.

Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning

While Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is in use, Model S displays a warning on the instrument cluster and sounds a chime if it detects that you are likely to run through a red stop light or stop sign. If this happens, TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION!

The visual and audible warnings cancel after a few seconds or when you press the brake pedal, whichever comes first.

Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning provides warnings only. It does not slow down or stop Model S at red traffic lights, stop signs, road markings, etc. If equipped with Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, you can enable this feature to automatically stop Model S at traffic lights and stop signs (see Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control).