To seat comfortably while driving has been an item of research for the automobile industries for a long time. Even the most luxurious and posh seats were not the ergonomic or healthy seats to sit. Though sitting for a short time doesn’t have much side effects, when you are a habitual driver and have to drive a couple of hours almost everyday; you must think about your seat. It has been found that people with more hours on the driving seat are subject to long term pelvic, postural or backbone problems.

You must have noticed that you feel uncomfortable when you are sitting for a long time even on the most padded seat. Actually it’s not the fabric, cushion or fluffiness of your seat the matters, the discomfort comes when you are sitting there for quite a long time without a break. Actually it’s due to the fact that though your hand or head is moving, the back is almost steady in a position which is not natural. That’s why when you are on a long drive, it is suggested to take short breaks and get down, do some movements or walk, so that you can get rid of the fatigue.

There are different seat accessories to make the seat more comfortable and driving friendly but they can’t do much about the main issue of this motionless back. The BMW has its solution, a state-of-the-art technology called the Active Comfort Seat, to keep you comfortable yet alert while driving. The BMW 7 Series E38 and E65 models have this Active Comfort Seat arrangement.

The system is comprised of motion-motors and hydraulic chambers which enable your seat to make a vertical movement of 15 mm in a programmed pattern. There are a couple of chambers containing a safe fluid which is filled and emptied through a hydraulic system. This filling up and emptying cause the seat to rise and lower in an alternate pattern so that you have a rocking motion of the left and right part of your pelvic in a minute-long cycle. However, the movement is so minute that it’s hardly noticeable and doesn’t hamper your concentration or driving. But this minute movement does a lot by improving blood circulation in the depressed muscles and bones and exercising in the backbone and pelvic zone. This will not only keep you safe from a long-term wear and tear but also keep you alert and free from fatigue or tenseness while driving.

But still, the last line is, DO take periodical breaks when going for a long drive!

ACC is the new technology being available with few BMW models which means an Active Cruise Control or sometimes called the Adaptive Cruise Control. It’s a technology of automatically controlling speed taking in consideration the proximity of nearby vehicles.

ACC is a system based on radar sensors which calculates the distance of nearby vehicles up to a range of 120 meters. Depending upon the relative speed and distance of a nearby vehicle, the system may slow down the engine or brake softly to adjust own speed. To monitor the road ahead, a radar sensor with three beams is used.

When you have a vehicle within 120 meter of your car, it is immediately picked up by the ACC radar eye. It takes subsequent readings to estimate the target vehicles relative speed, distance and future positions depending upon the present factors. With all these information available to the processor of the ACC, it will take actions like slowing down the engine or applying a mild brake. Thus it will keep your car at a safe distant constantly till the front vehicle is cleared. Once the ACC finds that the vehicle ahead poses no threat or has been cleared, it will regain its original speed by accelerating at its own.

The apart from the radar signals from the sensors, the ACC also takes consideration of other data inputs form on board systems like the ASC+T, ABS or DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) . Thus the system’s computer has data on the revs (wheel revolution), centrifugal force (while turning), etc. So, it can calculate difficult conditions like target vehicle estimation even while turning on a curve.

However, if the driver himself applies brakes or accelerates to avoid any situation, while ACC was taking action. However, when you are running freely and accelerate normally, the ACC is not deactivated. The system operates normally if you run at a speed over 30 kmph. The ACC is also very useful while going down a slope as it can keep a speed constant at its own.

Though ACC is designed to operate in inclement weather, like rain, fog or storm, you may not depend upon the automatic system fully to remain safe. Moreover, the ACC is not able to pick up static objects, like a jam or parked car. So, at all times the sole responsibility is on the driver.