Collision Mitigation Braking System

How to Use Collision Mitigation Braking System

Posted on August 17, 2018

How to Use Collision Mitigation Braking System

Does your Acura have AcuraWatch Plus? If it does, then it’s equipped with an awesome feature known as Collision Mitigation Braking System, or CMBS. Big words, aren’t they? It’s great to know that you have all these fancy features on your Acura. But wouldn’t it be better to know how to use Collision Mitigation Braking System to your advantage? Frank Leta Acura of Springfield is here for you. Whether you drive an Acura ILX, RDX, MDX, RLX, or TLX, we’ll give you the explanation on how to use the Collision Mitigation Braking System on your car or SUV. Don’t worry, though. Once it’s set the way you like it, you don’t need to do much.

How to Use Collision Mitigation Braking System on Your Acura

Understanding How CMBS Works

If it looks like there’s a possibility of your Acura colliding with a pedestrian or vehicle in front of you, CMBS is there to detect it. CMBS is designed to alert you to a potential accident, then either help you slow down to avoid it or mitigate the damage that happens as result of the impact. Simply put, CMBS helps you avoid accidents, even if you lose your concentration for a moment.

When CMBS Activates

Unless you turn off CMBS, it’s always active in the background, looking for danger. It’s able to operate when the speed difference between you and the object or vehicle in your way is 3 mph or more. Also, you must be traveling at 62 mph or less for CMBS to activate.

When Danger is Detected…

If the CMBS system ‘sees’ the potential for a collision in front of you with its radar or forward-mounted camera, there are three stages it can deploy.
  • Stage 1: A visual and audible warning are set off in your Acura, drawing your attention back to the road ahead of you.
  • Stage 2: Along with a visual and audible warning, CMBS uses light brake application to slow your car.
  • Stage 3: Along with a visual and audible warning, strong brake application is used to dramatically reduce your speed.
Keep in mind that the stages aren’t always in sequence. For example, if someone cuts you off in traffic, CMBS could skip straight to Stage 2 or Stage 3 to be most effective.

How to Adjust CMBS Settings

It’s super easy to adjust CMBS settings to just the way you like.
    • Press the SETTINGS button when your vehicle is in Park.
    • Choose the Vehicle Settings option.
    • Select Forward Collision Warning Distance from the menu.
    • Choose between three settings: Long, Normal, and Short. Normal is the default.
    • Select BACK to exit the menu screen.
Alternatively, you can turn off your Acura’s CMBS system by pressing and holding the CMBS OFF button to the left of the steering wheel until it beeps. Avoid that if you can.