Traffic Jam Assistance: how does it work?

10-12-2021

Driving can be a lot of fun, but also tiring at times. Especially in traffic jams, after a long workday, when your concentration is no longer optimal, and it takes effort to continuously monitor all traffic around you. At moments like these, it’s very helpful if you can rely on intelligent technology for extra peace of mind and safety, such as Traffic Jam Assistance.

Traffic Jam Assistance is an active safety system as part of the comprehensive range of intelligent assistance systems. These are grouped together under the name MG Pilot. These so-called Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are standard for all MG models and includes 12 to 15 different features, depending on the model.

These MG Pilot safety systems warn the driver of potential hazards and even intervene if necessary. Think of Lane Keep Assistance, Rear Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitoring, Drowsiness Warning System and Front Collision Warning with Automatic Emergency Braking. The purpose of this is to make driving easier, more enjoyable and above all, safer. But MG Pilot also includes driver assistance systems which partly take over driving, like Traffic Jam Assistance.

How does it work?

Traffic Jam Assistance (TJA) is an advanced driver assistance system that continuously measures the speed of the surrounding vehicles when Adaptive Cruise Control is switched on. That speed is compared with your own driving speed. If Traffic Jam Assistance detects many surrounding vehicles at speeds below 60 km/h – and you are therefore very likely to be in a traffic jam – the driver can activate Traffic Jam Assistance. With this, your MG partly takes over the driving.

With Traffic Jam Assistance switched on, the car automatically follows the vehicle in front. It accelerates and brakes all by itself, at all speeds below 60 km/h to a standstill and further. In addition, the intelligent technology continuously keeps the distance you set to the vehicle in front of you. But there is more: with Traffic Jam Assistance, your MG also steers automatically to stay neatly in the middle of the lane. Even in gentle corners! Very comfortable, carefree and safe driving, regardless the visibility, the weather conditions and the amount of traffic on the road.

Can I lean back then?

No, you can’t. It’s important to note that Traffic Jam Assistance – as the name implies – is an assistance system in which several assistance systems operate simultaneously. Traffic Jam Assistance is not a fully autonomous driving system. As a driver, you must actively pay attention and are responsible for driving at all times. When you let go of the steering wheel, you will therefore soon receive a warning and a request to grab the steering wheel (hands-on signalling).

The extent to which Traffic Jam Assistance functions and to what extent the driver must continue to pay attention is also referred to as level 2 autonomous driving. In comparison: only at level 5 the vehicle is able to drive fully independently, and the driver can literally lean back.

Traffic Jam Assistance comes as standard for the MG ZS EV, MG EHS Plug-in Hybrid, MG Marvel R Electric and MG5 Electric which will enter the European market in Q1 2022.