A direction indicator is configured to start blinking in response to an operation of a driver of a subject vehicle and automatically turn off after a first blinking time elapses. When the subject vehicle changes lanes in an automated or autonomous manner due to the operation of the driver, a control apparatus is used to extend the first blinking time to a second blinking time longer than the first blinking time and control the direction indicator to automatically turn off.

A vehicle includes a lever; a magnetic sensor configured to detect an angle of movement of the lever; an inputter configured to receive setting information regarding a lane change and a drive mode from a user; and a controller configured to determine whether to lock the lever based on at least one of the detected angle, the setting information, and the drive mode, and unlock the lever based on the drive mode and the lane change.

A direction indicator control unit inhibits direction indicators of a host vehicle from making a directional indication when the host vehicle enters a roundabout determined to be present along a presumed traveling route on which the host vehicle is presumed to travel. A direction indicator control method also inhibits direction indicators.

A direction indicator control unit inhibits direction indicators of a host vehicle from making a directional indication when the host vehicle enters a roundabout determined to be present along a presumed traveling route on which the host vehicle is presumed to travel. A direction indicator control method also inhibits direction indicators.

A method and system determine, during movement of a vehicle system along a route, a tractive load demanded by the vehicle system to propel the vehicle system along the route. The vehicle system includes a propulsion-generating vehicle having plural individually controllable traction motors. A first selected set of the traction motors for deactivation is identified during the movement of the vehicle system along the route based at least in part on the tractive load demanded by the vehicle system. The traction motors in the first selected set are deactivated while at least one of the traction motors in a first remaining set of the traction motors continues to generate tractive effort to propel the vehicle system. The traction motors that are selected for deactivation may all be on the same vehicle in the vehicle system, or may be on different vehicles of the same vehicle system.

An apparatus for a car includes: a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of an environment outside the car; and a processing unit; wherein the processing unit is configured to detect an automatic activation of a turn signal light of the car; and wherein the processing unit is also configured to generate a control signal to automatically turn off the turn signal light of the car.

An apparatus for a car includes: a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of an environment outside the car; and a processing unit; wherein the processing unit is configured to detect an automatic activation of a turn signal light of the car; and wherein the processing unit is also configured to generate a control signal to automatically turn off the turn signal light of the car.

An automatic driving system, that switches a driving state of a vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving due to a driver's operation during automatic driving of the vehicle, includes an electronic control unit configured to: determine whether a turning-off condition is satisfied when a direction indicator under the automatic driving is in a turned-on state and the driver's operation is performed; switch a driving state from the automatic driving to the manual driving and maintain the turned-on state of the direction indicator when the direction indicator is in the turned-on state and the driver's operation has been performed; determine whether the turning-off condition is satisfied based on a position of the vehicle under the manual driving or a traveling state of the vehicle under the manual driving; switch the direction indicator from the turned-on state to the turned-off state when it is determined that the turning-off condition is satisfied.

An automatic driving system, that switches a driving state of a vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving due to a driver's operation during automatic driving of the vehicle, includes an electronic control unit configured to: determine whether a turning-off condition is satisfied when a direction indicator under the automatic driving is in a turned-on state and the driver's operation is performed; switch a driving state from the automatic driving to the manual driving and maintain the turned-on state of the direction indicator when the direction indicator is in the turned-on state and the driver's operation has been performed; determine whether the turning-off condition is satisfied based on a position of the vehicle under the manual driving or a traveling state of the vehicle under the manual driving; switch the direction indicator from the turned-on state to the turned-off state when it is determined that the turning-off condition is satisfied.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, techniques are provided for automatic turn signal deactivation in a vehicle with a trailer. The vehicle includes a camera monitoring system that provides video images for display devices that replace traditional side view mirrors. In some embodiments, video information is obtained from the camera monitoring system and is used to determine an angle of the trailer. Upon activation of a turn signal indicator, the video information is used to detect departure of the trailer angle from a centered region and the subsequent return of the trailer angle to the centered region in order to automatically deactivate the turn signal indicator.