Your thoughts on this issue related to cruise control

Auto Tech · 2009-09-01T12:36:02+00:00

You may have seen this before as an e-mail forward. What do you think of it? ------------------------------ This is DANGEROUS....I wonder how many people know about this ~ A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago and totaled her car. A resident of Kilgore, Texas, she was traveling between Gladewater & Kilgore. It was raining, though not excessively, when her car suddenly began to hydro-plane and literally flew through the air. She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence! When she explained to the highway patrolman what had happened he told her something that every driver should know - NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON. She thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in the rain. But the highway patrolman told her if the cruise control is on when your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact with the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed making you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred. The patrolman said this warning should be listed on the driver's seat sun-visor - NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR ICY, along with the airbag warning. We tell our teenagers to set the cruise control and drive a safe speed - but we don't tell them to use the cruise control only when the pavement is dry. The only person the accident victim found who knew this (besides the patrolman), was a man who had had a similar accident, totaled his car and sustained severe injuries.

J

Jim Warman 17 years ago

There are no modern vehicles available (that I know of) that do not have the usual caveates regarding cruise control operation in the owners manual... If there is a defect in the car, it is in the fact that it will allow itself to be driven by someone unfamiliar with the contents of the owners manual.

What most people need to realize is that a car is a piece of machinery... nnothing more - nothing less. Operate it unsafely or operate it without exercising due care and attention (like, maybe, detereorating road conditions) can and will have life altering consequences. The sooner people return to accepting the reponsibility for their own actions or omissions......

Every time they make something more idiot proof, we cultivate a "better" breed of idiot...

Vote

H

harry k 17 years ago

========================= ====

Yep, and at a set throttle position, his speed varies up and down hills :).

Harry K

Vote

H

hls 17 years ago

I saw your post neither as straightforward or civil. If I were wrong, you have my apology.

Vote

T

tnom 17 years ago

How would you know this? Crystal ball?

5 mph slower than what? Seeing how you seem to know what speed it was?

When the road is wet I agree.

Vote

C

cuhulin 16 years ago

My 1978 Dodge van and my 1983 Dodge van have cruise control, but the cruise control in my 1978 Dodge van doesn't work, it wasen't working when I bought that van in 1989.I haven't tried the cruise control in my

1983 Dodge van I bought last September, one year ago.

I don't need, nor do I want any fancy cruise control, my right foot hasen't failed me yet. cuhulin

Vote

H

harry k 16 years ago

One of my most hair raising memories is the day I left Sault Ste Marie Mich on leave headed for Spokane. Early in morning nice day and I was making tracks around 65 on bare pavement. Entered a looonnng right hand bend, totally shaded and saw the black ice. "Self", says I, "don't touch ANYTHNG, don't let off the gas, don't touch the brake!" I think the cheek pinch lines were still on the seat covers when I traded it.

Harry K

Vote

C

cuhulin 16 years ago

Yesterday, on my way home from the Lowe's store, for the first time in a year since I bought my 1983 Dodge van, I tried out the cruise control.It doesn't work.That is perfectly A OK with me.I don't need cruise control, and I don't want cruise control.The cruise control in my 1978 Dodge van doesn't work either.

Back around 1979, I bought a 1948 Chevrolet pickup truck from a guy.The truck had cruise control that did work.It was a little box mounted under the dashboard with one or two wires and a little pulley and a little cable attatched to the accelerator pedal.To make it work, get the truck up to whichever speed and pull a knob on the box.Press the brake pedal and that kicks it out of cruise control.I traded the truck for another vehicle, but I kept the box.I still have the box/cruise control unit. cuhulin

Vote

J

Jeff Strickland 16 years ago

Pardon me for coming along 28 days later and butting in, but I thought everybody would know not to drive in the rain or snow with the Cruise on. Sort of like everybody knows not to stand on the very top step of a ladder, or not to shower and blow-dry your hair at the same time, or bypass the interlock switch on the microwave then watch the oatmeal boil. Or spitting on the biggest son of a bitch in the bar.

There are things that one just does not do.

Vote

S

Steve 16 years ago

What actually happens is that the car itself slows down relative to the road, but the cruise keeps the rear wheels turning the same speed. Therefore, since the car has slowed, th rear wheels are now spinning.

Vote