Something every driver should know. I sure didn't!!!

[sunny]

I looked this up on Urban Legends and Folklore - apparently it is true.

Something every driver should know. I sure didn't!!!

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 excessive, when her car suddenly began to hydroplane 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 had 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 and your car begins to hydroplane -- when your tires lose contact with the pavement your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed and you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred.

We all know you have little or no control over a car when it begins to hydroplane. You are at the mercy of the Good Lord. The highway patrol estimated her car was actually traveling through the air at 10 to 15 miles per hour faster than the speed set on the cruise control.

The patrolman said this warning should be listed, on the drivers 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 , was a man
who had had a similar accident, totaled his car and sustained severe
injuries. If you send this to 15 people and only one of them doesn't know about this, then it was all worth it. You might have saved a life.

[alicia-w]

I did know that actually, and told my kids if I ever caught them using cruise control, I'd take their driving privileges. It makes them complacent drivers....

[Miss Mary]

Sunny - I'm safe there, b/c I hate cruise control! My car doesn't have it (basic, stripped down inexpensive Civic) but my husband's car has it. When it's my turn to drive on vacations, he's always fiddling with some control. Bugging me to set the cruise and I say no thank you. But he loves it. Thinking back, I'm sure he used it on rainy drives. I'll mention it but I'm sure I'll be met with a skeptical look - you heard this on 'your wx board'....and I'll get a hrrrrrmmppphhh! But I'll still say it.

Mary

[sunny]

LOL - Miss Mary - you are funny! I don't use my cruise control much at all. But I do know people who use it on a regular basis, especially my nephew when he comes home from college! You can believe I am going to make sure he is aware of this, AND let his mom know about it, too!

[PurdueWx80]

Very interesting - the cruise is definitely nice to have on long interestate drives home because it saves a ton of gas, believe it or not. Plus, it helps you maintain a safe speed in case you happen to have a lead foot. Guess I'll think twice next time it's raining though.

[JenBayles]

Sunny - I'm safe there, b/c I hate cruise control! My car doesn't have it (basic, stripped down inexpensive Civic) but my husband's car has it. When it's my turn to drive on vacations, he's always fiddling with some control. Bugging me to set the cruise and I say no thank you. But he loves it. Thinking back, I'm sure he used it on rainy drives. I'll mention it but I'm sure I'll be met with a skeptical look - you heard this on 'your wx board'....and I'll get a hrrrrrmmppphhh! But I'll still say it.

Mary

Are we married to the same man?!

[Lindaloo]

I knew this one. Worked for Allstate and I have just about seen and heard everything.

[j]

I'm not a big fan of cruise either. Maybe its my advanced age , but I can never find the rigth button in time to decelerate, and I just hit the brake instead to cut it out, which isn't the best idea on a highway doing 80.

[The Big Dog]

I never thought about it, but it makes sense. As you hydroplane, your car slows down, but your cruise control hits the accelerator in an attempt to maintain speed. Similar to what would happen if you set your CC and then threw the car into neutral. (DO NOT TRY THIS!)

Here's what Snopes has to say: http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/wetroad.asp

[Brent]

My grandpa uses cruise control all the time.

[SouthernWx]

I've never utilized cruise control in a vehicle....as someone else mentioned, I believe it makes a driver more complacent and less alert.

[Gorky]

Here in the UK, very few cars have cruise control. I really don't understand it at all. Are people in the US too lazy to keep their foot on the accelerator or something? It seems like an incredibly dangerous feature, as people will likely have their feet off the pedals, slowing braking times, and they aren't likely to pay as much attention. That combined with the fact that most people don't seem to realise the dangers of using it in low traction conditions make me queston it's use. As for the whole 'taking off' thing mentioned in the article, that has to be bullshit :p It would elave the surface of the road as the car floated on the water, but it's not liek it's possible to get any air between the tires and the ground unless you hit a ramp or something.

[Yankeegirl]

I think my car has some kind of safety feature... If my wipers are on, the cruise control wont work at all... Go figure... It works when the wipers are off.... I think thats a great feature..

[pojo]

I don't have cruise control in my car... although I have hydroplained a few times before.