To initiate Traffic-Aware Cruise Control when no vehicle is detected ahead of you, you must be driving at least 18 mph (30 km/h), unless certain vehicle and environmental conditions are met, in which case, you may be able to initiate it at lower speeds. If a vehicle is detected ahead of you, you can initiate Traffic-Aware Cruise Control at any speed, even when stationary, provided Model S is at least 5 feet (1.5 m) behind the detected vehicle and certain vehicle and environmental conditions are met.

When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is available but not engaged, the instrument panel displays a gray cruising speed icon. The number shown in gray represents the cruising speed that will be set when you engage Traffic-Aware Cruise Control.

When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is actively cruising at a set cruising speed, the icon turns blue and displays the set cruising speed.

1. When available, you can engage Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to match the speed limit or your current speed. Choose:
   • To engage Traffic-Aware Cruise Control at your current driving speed, move the Autopilot stalk up or down once and release the accelerator pedal to allow Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to maintain the cruising speed.

     

   • To engage Traffic-Aware Cruise Control at the currently detected speed limit, pull the Autopilot stalk toward you once and release the accelerator pedal to allow Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to maintain the cruising speed.

     

     Note

     If Autopilot Activation is set to Single Pull, moving the Autopilot stalk toward you once activates Autosteer (see Autosteer). Touch Controls > Autopilot > Autopilot Activation and choose Double Pull to use Traffic-Aware Cruise Control independently of Autosteer when you move the Autosteer stalk toward you.
     Note

     If you choose to engage Traffic-Aware Cruise Control at the currently detected speed limit, you can specify an offset. Touch Controls > Autopilot > Set Speed Offset. You can choose a Fixed offset, in which the cruising speed adjusts by a specific number of mph (km/h) on all roads, or a Percentage offset, in which the cruising speed is adjusted as a percentage of the road's detected speed limit. If you pull the Autopilot stalk toward you when you are already driving faster than the speed limit, the set speed adjusts to your current driving speed instead of the speed limit. If you move the Autopilot stalk up or down when cruising at the speed limit, your set speed changes to your current driving speed.
   A chime sounds to indicate that Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is now active.
   Warning

   When you adjust the cruising speed based on the speed limit, the set cruising speed may not change when the speed limit changes.
   Warning

   Do not rely on Traffic-Aware Cruise Control or Speed Assist to determine an accurate or appropriate cruising speed. It is the driver's responsibility to cruise at a safe speed based on road conditions and applicable speed limits.
2. To change your speed while using Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, you can use the right scroll wheel or the Autopilot stalk. For details, see Changing the Cruising Speed.
3. To cancel Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, push the stalk away from you once or press the brake pedal. See Canceling and Resuming for more information.

To change the set cruising speed while using Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, move the Autopilot stalk up (increase) or down (decrease) until the instrument panel icon displays your desired cruising speed.

To increase/decrease speed by 1 mph (1 km/h), move the stalk up or down to the first position and release. To increase/decrease speed to the closest 5 mph (5 km/h) increment, move the stalk up/down to the second position and release. For example, if you are traveling at 57 mph and you move the stalk up to the second position and release, the speed increases to 60 mph. You can also increase/decrease speed by holding the stalk in the full up/down position and releasing when the icon on the instrument panel displays your desired cruising speed.

You can also pull and hold the Autopilot stalk towards you for approximately half a second to cruise at the detected speed limit.

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

Traffic-Aware Cruise Control also adjusts the cruising speed when entering and exiting curves.

You can manually accelerate at any time when cruising at a set speed, but when you release the accelerator, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control resumes cruising at the set speed.

When following a vehicle, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control remains active at low speeds, even when Model S comes to a full stop. When the vehicle is moving again, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control resumes operating at the set speed. However, under the following circumstances, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control goes into a HOLD state, in which case, you need to briefly press the accelerator pedal or pull the Autopilot stalk toward you (see Canceling and Resuming) to resume cruising. When the HOLD status is active, the instrument panel displays the HOLD icon and a message that indicates that you need to resume cruise control. The following circumstances can cause Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to go into the HOLD state:

• 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.

When cruising near an exit on a controlled-access highway and engaging 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 164 feet (50 meters) of an exit. Likewise in regions with left hand traffic; when engaging the left turn signal when driving in the left-most lane within 164 feet (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.

When enabled while on a highway interchange or off-ramp, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control may reduce your set speed in 5 mph (5 km/h) increments – to as slow as 25 mph (40 km/h) – to better match the reported speeds of other Tesla vehicles that have driven at that specific location. To override this and continue cruising at your set speed, tap the accelerator pedal or move the Autopilot stalk. The new set speed is maintained for the duration of the interchange or off-ramp (unless you override it or cancel Traffic-Aware Cruise Control). After the interchange or off-ramp, the set speed may revert or change as necessary based on the new location. For example, if you merged onto a different highway, the set cruising speed reverts to what it was before driving on the interchange.

To adjust the following distance you want to maintain between Model S and a vehicle traveling ahead of you, rotate the Autopilot stalk. 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. Your setting is retained until you manually change it.

The closest following distance is 2.

As you rotate the Autopilot stalk, the instrument panel displays the current setting. Release the stalk when the desired setting is displayed.

When following a vehicle with Traffic-Aware Cruise Control active, engaging the turn signal (to indicate a move into the passing lane) accelerates Model S towards the vehicle ahead. By momentarily holding the turn signal stalk up or down, you can quickly accelerate up to your set speed without having to press the accelerator pedal. The turn signal causes acceleration only when all of the following conditions are met:

• 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 45 mph (72 km/h).

Overtake Acceleration is intended as an aid when passing a vehicle ahead of you. When the turn signal is engaged, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control continues to maintain distance from the vehicle ahead, but allows you to drive slightly closer than your selected distance.

Acceleration cancels when one of the conditions happen:

• You reach your set cruising speed.
• Changing lanes takes too long.
• Model S gets too close to the vehicle ahead.

  OR

• You disengage the turn signal.

To manually cancel Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, press the brake pedal or briefly push the Autopilot stalk away from you. The cruising speed icon on the instrument panel turns gray to indicate that Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is no longer active.

To resume cruising at the previously set speed, briefly pull the Autopilot stalk toward you.

To resume cruising at the current driving speed, move the Autopilot stalk up or down, then release.

• You press the brake pedal.
• Your driving speed exceeds the maximum cruising speed of 90 mph (150 km/h).
• You shift Model S.
• A door is opened.
• A camera or sensor (if equipped) is obstructed. This could be caused by dirt, mud, ice, snow, fog, etc.
• The traction control setting is manually disabled or is repeatedly engaging to prevent wheels from slipping.
• The wheels are spinning while at a standstill.
• The Traffic-Aware Cruise Control system is failing or requires service.

When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is unavailable or cancels, Model S no longer drives consistently at a set speed and no longer maintains a specified distance from the vehicle ahead.

Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is particularly unlikely to operate as intended in the following types of situations:

• The road has sharp curves.
• Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.).
• Bright light (such as from oncoming headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering with the view of the camera(s).
• A camera or sensor (if equipped) is obstructed (fogged over, dirty, covered by a sticker, etc.).