Cruise control in the rain.

pstuart

roddydogs wrote: »

Some great pedants around here.

I embrace it.

System

One problem with a lot of cruise controls is that they are not subtle. If your speed drops below the set speed then they use maximum acceleration to get back to it. In wet conditions that is a recipe for causing aquaplaning. Once you lose grip the cruise control will continue providing max acceleration in an attempt to get up to speed

oldagetraveller

Toyota advise this (my bold and inderline) -


"To avoid operating the cruise control by mistake
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON-OFF” button when not in use.
 Situations unsuitable for cruise control
Do not use cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in loss of control and could cause an accident resulting
in death or serious injury.
 In heavy traffic
 On roads with sharp bends
 On winding roads
 On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
 On steep hills
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
 When your vehicle is towing a trailer"

facade

motorguy wrote: »

I think the underlying principle is "adjust your speed for the conditions". IF that accident did occur it was because she was driving too fast for the conditions, NOT specifically because she had cruise control on.

Quite.

If the wheels were spinning desperately trying to find enough traction to keep the car going at 70, then she was obviously going too fast for the conditions (and to continue a different thread, she would be negligent and therefore to blame for the resulting accident.)

I think the advice should be "Set your CC for a reduced speed appropriate for the conditions, or turn it off and actually drive the thing"

REDDDRAGGON

Bollotom wrote: »

Is cruise control really designed for UK motorways?

Works fine for me, I've been doing 200miles/week on the M6/56/62/A55 recently, 90+% of it in CC, works great.

AdrianC

Bad things might happen if you set cruise to too high a speed for the conditions.

Well, blimey, I'm glad somebody told me that, because I wouldn't have guessed.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

If you read the manual of your car with cruise control, it is almost certain to say not to use it in poor weather conditions. While modern systems can assist, essentially you should be driving with as much control of the car as you can have in poor weather.

Cruise control comes in may forms, and basic cruise control may not have the speed sensor on the driving wheel. If you do loose grip in the wet, the normal response is to lift off the accelerator and clearly it is not a given that cruise control will do that, so there is the possibility on a slippery surface or when aquaplaning that cruise control will continue to apply drive so making the situation worse.

So, don't believe anything that is posted on Facebook, but it is true that using cruise control in poor weather conditions is not a very good idea. I'll use it on wet roads (but not in torrential rain), because I am both well aware of the limitations of the car and also I know how to cancel it rapidly.

In conditions likely to cause aquaplaning there is no driver who should be even thinking of driving at a constant speed rather than watching the road ahead like a hawk and reacting to signs of pooling water.

RichardD1970

martinthebandit wrote: »

Sorry OP but this fails the 'is this nonsense' test;

Posted on Facebook? Usually nonsense
Does it end with 'this could save lives/kittens/children? Usually nonsense
Is there anyway of easily verifying the original story? If not, its nonsense
Does it contain things that are a physical impossibility? Definitely nonsense.

So basically its nonsense.

Hope that helps

Totally agree on the Facebook thing (especially, as said, from the "friend" who posted it) which is why I googled it and got conflicting answers, as is the case on here .

anyway, interesting discussion and views .

Bollotom

wba31 wrote: »

I presume you're in the outside lane trying to go as quick as poss? In that sense you are right that standard (non radar assisted) CC is pointless, on a busy motorway i may just sit on inside lane matching lorry speed on cruise if im not in a rush.

On the broader point, in the owners manuals of all cars ive had with CC it says to not use it in heavy rain or icy conditions, as long as you are sensible and sensitive to road conditions im not sure it's something to get freaked out about...

Not necessarily in the outside lane as I only use that when overtaking and don't overtake with CC on. Good idea to get behind lorries and use it but other lanes it's normally a waste of time. :cool:

motorguy

AdrianC wrote: »

Bad things might happen if you set cruise to too high a speed for the conditions.

Well, blimey, I'm glad somebody told me that, because I wouldn't have guessed.

Its typical of the dross reposted on facebook. Its either stating the obvious or completely banal, yet people still repost.