2021 Tesla Model Y Traffic-Aware Cruise Control Owners Manual

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 Y is at least 5 feet (150 cm) behind the detected vehicle and certain vehicle and environmental conditions are met.

When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is available but not engaged, the touchscreen displays the cruising speed in gray. The number shown 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 cruising speed is highlighted with blue text.

1. You can choose whether Traffic-Aware Cruise Control engages at the currently detected speed limit or your current driving speed. Touch Controls > Autopilot > Set Speed and choose either Speed Limit or Current Speed. If you choose to engage Traffic-Aware Cruise Control at the currently detected speed limit, you can specify an offset. Touch 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.
   Warning

   When cruising at the speed limit, there may be situations where the 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 engage Traffic-Aware Cruise Control when it is available (the car status area of the touchscreen displays the gray cruising speed icon), move the drive stalk down once, then release the accelerator pedal to allow Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to maintain the cruising speed.
   Note

   Moving the drive stalk down twice in quick succession engages Autosteer (assuming it has been enabled), which includes Traffic-Aware Cruise Control functionality, as described in Autosteer).
3. To change your speed while using Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, you can roll the right scroll wheel on the steering wheel up or down. You can also change the cruising speed to the current speed limit (including any offset you’ve specified), by either long-pressing the drive stalk down, or touching the speed limit sign on the touchscreen. For more details, see Changing the Cruising Speed.
4. To cancel Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, push the drive stalk up once or press the brake pedal. See Canceling and Resuming for more information.

If you want a chime to sound when you engage or cancel Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, touch Controls > Autopilot > Traffic-Aware Cruise Control Chime.

Roll the right scroll wheel up to increase, or down to decrease, the set speed. Slowly rolling the scroll wheel changes the set speed in 1 mph (1 km/h) increments and quickly rolling the scroll wheel changes the set speed to the closest 5 mph (5 km/h) increment.

With Traffic-Aware Cruise Control engaged and cruising at a set speed, you can also change the cruising speed to the current speed limit (including any offset you’ve specified), by either pushing the drive stalk downward and briefly holding, or touching and briefly holding the speed limit sign on the touchscreen, until you see the cruising speed change.

Traffic-Aware Cruise Control maintains your set cruising speed whenever a vehicle is not detected in front of Model Y. When cruising behind a detected vehicle, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control accelerates and decelerates Model Y 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 Y 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 to resume cruising. When the HOLD status is active, the touchscreen 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 Y has been at a standstill for 5 minutes.
• Model Y detects a pedestrian (the HOLD state may clear when the pedestrian is no longer detected).
• Model Y suddenly loses visibility of the vehicle in front of you.
• An obstacle is detected in front of Model Y.

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 Y. 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. 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 back to what it was before driving on the interchange.

To adjust the following distance you want to maintain between Model Y and a vehicle traveling ahead of you, press the steering wheel’s right scroll button to the left or right. Choose a setting from 1 (the closest following distance) to 7 (the longest following distance). Each setting corresponds to a time-based distance that represents how long it takes for Model Y, from its current location, to reach the location of the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead of you.

As you adjust the following distance, the touchscreen displays the current setting.

When following a vehicle with Traffic-Aware Cruise Control active, engaging the turn signal (to indicate a move into the passing lane) accelerates Model Y 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 Y 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 Y 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 move the drive stalk up once. The cruising speed icon on the touchscreen turns gray to indicate that Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is no longer active.

To resume cruising, move the drive stalk fully down once then release.

• You press the brake pedal.
• Your driving speed exceeds the maximum cruising speed of 90 mph (150 km/h).
• You shift Model Y.
• A door is opened.
• A camera or sensor 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 Y 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 is obstructed (fogged over, dirty, covered by a sticker, etc.).