Honda claims its smart cruise control can predict cut-ins

On the 2015 CR-V, Honda will introduce a new smart cruise control system it says is capable of predicting when other cars are likely to cut in front of the equipped vehicle.

The Japanese brand's Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (i-ACC) relies on a camera and a radar at the front of the car to sense the position of other vehicles on the road. An algorithm uses this data to calculate the probability that one of these cars will cut into the equipped car's lane, allowing the system to react instantly to protect the driver and passengers' safety.

Specifically, this means signaling the driver of the cut-in through a dashboard icon and applying the brakes -- lightly when the distance from the car ahead is moderate, or more aggressively only as needed to maintain a safe following distance.

Of course, the innovation is a variant of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), a concept already widely in use in the car industry, which is used to maintain a preset speed but slows down when necessary to maintain a safe distance from the car ahead.

The new technology will debut on the new 2015 Honda CR-V, exclusively with the Executive trim package. The new vehicle is due to bow at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015 and to launch later this spring.