Use of Cruise Control in hazardous conditions

[ktm690rr]

In the not too distant past I read of an Australian driver loosing control whilst driving in heavy rain whilst cc was engaged. The car appeared to speed up which I believe caused it to aquaplane and the rest is as they say history

 

Could this happen with the cc system on the Yeti and if so can anyone explain the reason.

 

Thanks

 

Mike

 

[bigjohn]

In the not too distant past I read of an Australian driver loosing control whilst driving in heavy rain whilst cc was engaged. The car appeared to speed up which I believe caused it to aquaplane and the rest is as they say history

 

Could this happen with the cc system on the Yeti and if so can anyone explain the reason.

 

Thanks

 

Mike

 

If, whilst cruise control is engaged, sufficient power or engine braking is automatically applied to cause wheels to rotate at a different speed to the direction of travel (bad snow,ice,water) then you could potentially loose control as technically the driving wheels would be "skidding"

 

Saying that you don't need cruise control to achieve that an accelerator or brake pedal can do the same although the brake pedal has the luxury of ABS. I once briefly lost control of an old Passat (1990 1.6td) that started skidding/drifting when using engine braking at a very low speed on a VERY icy surface (no accident as I dipped clutch in time to gain sort of a control- just) . Went around a corner to see six cars in the same ditch!  

Edited 28 November, 2015 by bigjohn

[Rooted]

In the UK drivers in accidents have been prosecuted when in an accident in sever conditions and using Cruise Control.

Driving without due care and attention,  or Careless Driving,  because not in full control of the vehicle.

Not an internet myth.

Edited 28 November, 2015 by GoneOffskiroottoot

[JCP]

The law is secondary-in bad conditions complete alertness and skilled control is the minimum standard-otherwise pull off and take a break until conditions are within your capability. I once left the M11 onto a service vehicle only area as I couldn't see well enough to feel able to continue in stair rod rain. Others more skilled(?) or bold continued and took a chance I regarded as unacceptable. Standing water and poor visibility are a recipe for risk where everyone is at the mercy of the man who is eking out the last millimetre of tyre tread

[gumdrop]

I don't think I would be using cruise control in severe conditions,

because the car and not you would be calling the shots.

Also tyres play a big part in what happens and would be more able

to provide adhesion at lower speeds where you would not be using

cruise control. While the legal minimum tread is 1.6mm, tyres with a

tread depth below 3mm see a frightening fall-off in performance in the wet.

[bigjohn]

Using cruise control was illegal on some roads in Belgium a few years ago. You saw the odd sign warning of this but must admit haven't noticed any recently when driving through so am not sure if the ban is still in place

Edited 28 November, 2015 by bigjohn

[devonutopia]

I'd want to be under 100% control which would include instant off throttle *but no braking* if aquaplaning was either occurring or a high risk.

[Defenderben]

If you are talking ACC,it actually warns you about the use of Adaptive Cruise Control in adverse conditions as the radar can be adversely affected in bad weather and can cause the car to slam the brakes on.

[Anzio]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I cannot see the point of cruise control on the roads in the UK.

 

I wonder how many accidents are caused by people with CC on?

[bigjohn]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I cannot see the point of cruise control on the roads in the UK.

 

I wonder how many accidents are caused by people with CC on?

I drove from East Yorkshire to Sheffield this morning at 6am - very light traffic - had cruise on most of the way. It's also very good at preserving your licence through very long average speed zones!  

 

Many accidents not caused by cruise control but the bad application of large pedal on the right or the one in the middle!

Edited 28 November, 2015 by bigjohn

[Urrell]

Most if not all accidents attributed to cruise control are really the driver not knowing how to use cruise control properly.

Cruise control holds a constant speed not a constant throttle that will spin wheels if grip is reduced, if there is a problem with that the driver should have taken action to regain control not blame CC for their failing.
I use CC probably 90% of the time and find it 2nd nature probably because of years of driving heavy plant where that was the normal way of driving.

I do believe that a woman in America had an accident where she had CC on and went into the back of the motor caravan to make a cup of tea thus having an accident pretty soon after. She then tried to claim against the manufacturer for not warning her about that in the handbook.

 

The same people that do not understand CC are also generally those that say the car accelerates when on a patch of ice or slippery road.

[Ryeman]

I would have thought that any activation of ESP/DSC would cancel the cc in the same way the brake lights do.

[Urrell]

A bump in the road cancels it too, I suspect because it thinks you may be drifting off the road.

[ktm690rr]

I would have thought that any activation of ESP/DSC would cancel the cc in the same way the brake lights do.

And that is what I am trying to get an answer to.

Up to recent I had been a DSA ADI for almost 7 years, I am still a member of IAM, but further I am also RoSPA advanced car tutor and undertaken some formal training with the Police Driving School. What I am trying to convey is that I have a fair understanding and can read poor or hazardous road conditions. What I do not have is the knowledge of how my Yeti is progammed to react to them. Does anyone know ?

 

Mike

[Gizmo]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I cannot see the point of cruise control on the roads in the UK.

 

I wonder how many accidents are caused by people with CC on?

 

REALLY?

 

I must be doing something severely wrong then as I do 100K miles PA ... with CC on for the majority of it!

 

RemanI would have thought that any activation of ESP/DSC would cancel the cc in the same way the brake lights do.

 

It does exactly that!

[Ryeman]

I would think brake lights and esp activation would be industry wide, but I wouldn't like to see what actually happens.......our gravel roads, deep standing water, ice etc are not where I'd use cc simply because of a lack-of-control feel.

I even find it hard to avoid cadence braking by simply slamming on the brakes not having been brought up in the tech age.

I try to stay in control but the esp abs stuff can't be beaten and you have to understand that and ignore old instinctive reactions.

[Llanigraham]

In the UK drivers in accidents have been prosecuted when in an accident in sever conditions and using Cruise Control.

Driving without due care and attention,  or Careless Driving,  because not in full control of the vehicle.

Not an internet myth.

 

Evidence please?

[Guest]

In the UK drivers in accidents have been prosecuted when in an accident in sever conditions and using Cruise Control.

Driving without due care and attention, or Careless Driving, because not in full control of the vehicle.

Not an internet myth.

I've read several police reports of vehicles involved in solo RTC's during adverse weather/heavy rain etcetera, with the CC being highlighted as a possible contribution to it. Never read, or heard of anyone involved in an RTC's being prosecuted for using CC.

The Driving Without Due Care Or Attention would not be down to the use of CC, but failing to leave a big enough gap, didn't brake in time

The Octy MKII handbook does advise not using CC during adverse weather.

[Rooted]

Llanigraham,  Evidence of Prosecution or evidence of a successful conviction, which is a different thing?

I can find you that, but a big grown up person like you can easily find it yourself.

I know the cases and the people involved, and its not an internet myth.

I have been there when the vehicles were recovered,

& 'It was in Scotland Fin69'.

 

If a person is interviewed after a RTA and gives the statement that they were not aware of the conditions and they were travelling at the speed they were with Cruise Control on and then the next thing they knew they were out of control. you can see where it might be themselves 

saying exactly what had happened, they were quite possibly not driving to the conditions.

 

Today would be a very stupid day to be turning on CC on many of the rather wet and flooded trunk roads in Scotland.

Putting Lights on this morning and slowing down might be a good idea for many.

There have been a few accidents over night and this morning already.

 

http://trafficscotland.org

http://trafficscotland.org/currentincidents

 

 

.............................................

100,000 miles a year is a lot of sitting at a steering wheel.

getting on for over 2,000 miles a working week and leisure time and Cruise Control would be high on my list of important things.

[Dr Zoidberg]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I cannot see the point of cruise control on the roads in the UK.

 

I wonder how many accidents are caused by people with CC on?

I used CC for about 170 of a 220 mile journey yesterday and it was very helpful. It may not be useful for your driving but it is for mine.

[Dr Zoidberg]

In the UK drivers in accidents have been prosecuted when in an accident in sever conditions and using Cruise Control.

Driving without due care and attention,  or Careless Driving,  because not in full control of the vehicle.

Not an internet myth.

Do you have any links to such cases?

I can see how using CC could be careless in certain situations but I'm curious to see court results.

[Paulbrown]

I have never been to a rtc where the CC was to blame

[Huskoda]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I cannot see the point of cruise control on the roads in the UK.

 

I wonder how many accidents are caused by people with CC on?

It works fine for me. I use it almost all the time. It keeps the car at a constant speed so I am predictable to other drivers and allows me to keep my eyes more on the road and less on the speedo. I consider it an improvement to my safety. I do use just two settings though, the speed limit and off. If the conditions do not allow safe travel at the limit then I drive manually.

I wouldn't ever want to have CC that can slow down as I do not want to start getting into the habit of assuming the car will apply the brakes for me.

[x19]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I cannot see the point of cruise control on the roads in the

+1 - my car's got it but I haven't bothered to find out how to operate as where I do 90% of my driving you can't go more than a few hundred yards without changing direction, slowing down, speeding up, stopping or starting. It's a total waste of time for me.

[muddyjim]

In the not too distant past I read of an Australian driver loosing control whilst driving in heavy rain whilst cc was engaged. The car appeared to speed up which I believe caused it to aquaplane and the rest is as they say history

 

Could this happen with the cc system on the Yeti and if so can anyone explain the reason.

 

Thanks

 

Mike

 

This article on an Australian motoring website seem to suggest that the "incident" may not have occurred quite as made out - if at all. It confirms that Cruise Control itself will not speed the car up if aquaplaning (something which I can't believe could happen).

 

http://www.motoring.com.au/advice/2006/cruise-control-and-aquaplaning-the-facts-7413

 

Jim

 

EDIT:

Indeed this is the scam email that created the cc alarm (in 2006!):

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/cruise-control-warning.html

Edited 29 November, 2015 by muddyjim