You Drive In The Rain With Your Cruise Control

A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago.
It was raining, though not excessively and 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 that if the cruise control is on, your car will begin to hydro-plane when the tires lose contact with the pavement, and 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 a similar accident, totaled his car and sustained severe injuries.
Some vehicles (supposedly) will not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on.

Checking with Toyota they provided the following precautions for using Cruise Control in following situations (taken from the 2010 Corolla Owner's Manual page 161).  (I own one.  Not just the Manual - the car).
- To avoid operating the cruise control by mistake Keep the “ON-OFF” button off 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 control of the vehicle being lost 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
When your vehicle is towing a trailer

I suggest that you check your car's owners manual or the company for your make and model of car.  In any event I would suggest you err on the side of caution.  Stay Safe.

0 comments:

Post a Comment