Should You Use Cruise Control In The Rain

Tin yous drive with cruise control in the pelting?

Cruise control stalk in a Toyota

Cruise control is a common technology that allows you lot to gear up a detail speed on your car and the car will endeavour to maintain that speed. This is usually regardless of the road conditions, the actual speed limit or the amount of traffic. Newer technologies such as radar-based cruise control ('adaptive cruise control') sense other vehicles ahead of you lot and volition brake to maintain a safe distance. Modern prowl control systems will also brake on downhill slopes so that you don't speed upwards.

While it'south useful in that drivers don't have to worry near getting a speeding ticket if they've set the cruise speed nether the limit, and it can, in some circumstances, be more than economical to drive with cruise control (if the road is flat and fairly direct), there are scenarios where y'all should not use cruise command: slippery roads.

Slippery roads are caused by:

Gravel/dirt
Ice/snowfall
Continuing h2o, i.east. if it'southward rained heavily for a while or there's been a torrential downpour (considering tyre treads can't disperse the water fast enough
Calorie-free rain later a period when information technology'due south been hot and dry (considering the build-up of oil and grime on the roads causes a slippery picture to form)

On a slippery road you lot are more likely to wheelspin, and that ways a loss of control.

The master issue is that if cruise control causes you lot to skid the just way of stopping cruise control is to either plough it off using the push or stalk, pace on the brakes or modify gear. Stepping on the brakes will exist almost people'south emergency response and unfortunately this can make things worse if you don't take anti-lock brakes. Usually with aquaplaning or a mild sideslip you would simply release the accelerator and steer towards the direction of the skid until you regain grip.

If your car has traction control or electronic stability control those electronics are designed to detect wheelspin and they volition restrict the throttle or independently brake the drive wheels to regain control.

The other issue with cruise control is on windy roads. When you lot turn your car some of the forward momentum is changed to angular momentum by the friction of the tyres on the road – i.e. some of the forward energy has to be used to turn the car, and this causes it to slow downwardly. Cruise control volition try to accelerate through the corner to keep you at the same speed. A small corporeality of acceleration in the corner balances the car, merely as well much tin can crusade y'all to wheelspin and understeer in front-bicycle bulldoze cars or oversteer in rear-wheel bulldoze cars.

It is ordinarily better to use a speed limiter, although less cars have these fitted.

If prowl control causes you lot to sideslip it won't cause you to advance, although it might experience like it if you suddenly lose control. Read more than here about what types of skids in that location are.