Driving in the rain with...............
Thread Starter
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 1
From: Louisville KY
Driving in the rain with...............
your cruise control on.
Just saw this and thought I would pass it on.
Anyone experience this?
This has been verified by snopes: http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/wetroad.asp
I Wonder How Many People Know About This:
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 excessively, when 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 when your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact with the pavement, 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 had a
similar accident, totaled his car and sustained severe
injuries.
NOTE: Some vehicles (like the Toyota Sienna Limited XLE) will not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on.
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.
Just saw this and thought I would pass it on.
Anyone experience this?
This has been verified by snopes: http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/wetroad.asp
I Wonder How Many People Know About This:
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 excessively, when 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 when your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact with the pavement, 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 had a
similar accident, totaled his car and sustained severe
injuries.
NOTE: Some vehicles (like the Toyota Sienna Limited XLE) will not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on.
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.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Bristow VA
.... nope cars don't take off like planes when hydroplaning... especially at "safe" speeds... I call BS
More Info:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/cruise-control-warning.html
Last edited by terrible1one3; Nov 17, 2009 at 02:12 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Bristow VA
"Once the wheel spin occures cruise control will immediately reduce the throttle to try to get the tires to spin at the preset speeds" That coupled with braking as the natural reaction to this pretty much throws this fake sop story of a bad driver right into the BS file. IMO.
Disclaimer: Accidents are never a good thing... People's health is important and I hate seing crashes. But they can ALWAYS be prevented.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
OMG someone who thinks cruise control is safe in the wet
The gene pool is in need of chlorine
I watched Texan drivers try to cope with 31 degrees on one occasion. 1039 accidents by 11AM They had to close the freeways. BTW sprinklers don't work when its freezing
.
In the wet .................. drive the car
The gene pool is in need of chlorineI watched Texan drivers try to cope with 31 degrees on one occasion. 1039 accidents by 11AM
They had to close the freeways. BTW sprinklers don't work when its freezing.In the wet .................. drive the car
Last edited by DeeGee; Nov 17, 2009 at 01:49 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Bristow VA
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Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Blacksburg Virginia
I had a 1990 Bronco II that would rev like that if you pushed the clutch in with cruise on. Had an interesting experience one time when the throttle got stuck and had to throw it out of gear.
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Blacksburg Virginia
Yeah, I was just remembering how interesting that car was. The throttle getting stuck didn't involve the cruise control. But it would rev with cruise control on if you pushed the clutch in when you left it in gear.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 45
From: Tampa Bay, Go BUCS!!!Go Rays!!!Go Lightning!!!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Ive driven in the rain using cruise countless times.
I've never had a problem in a rear drive vehicle, however, I did have one time in my Grand Prix where I ran through some standing water and it hydroplaned. The cruise shut off the instant it started overrevving.
I don't recommend it it a serious downpour. You really should be trying to self control the car as much as possible in that situation.
I've never had a problem in a rear drive vehicle, however, I did have one time in my Grand Prix where I ran through some standing water and it hydroplaned. The cruise shut off the instant it started overrevving.
I don't recommend it it a serious downpour. You really should be trying to self control the car as much as possible in that situation.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 2
From: Resume Speed Tennessee
It is doubtful that anyone driving in medium to heavy rain with the cruise set (or chatting on a cell phone) is paying close enough attention to road conditions. Late model vehicles won't let you accelerate and 'take off like an airplane' but a deep pool of water sure will let the car get squirrley in a heartbeat. I'm with DeeGee: drive the car.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
From the owner's manual: If your vehicle is in cruise control when the Traction
Control System begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage.
CAUTION:
• Cruise control can be dangerous where you can’t drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic.
• Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel spinning, and you could lose control.
Don’t use cruise control on slippery roads.
Control System begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage.
CAUTION:
• Cruise control can be dangerous where you can’t drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic.
• Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel spinning, and you could lose control.
Don’t use cruise control on slippery roads.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,554
Likes: 35
From: Godfrey IL
Can't believe we are having this discussion.
Moreover, I can't believe people don't read the car manual before they operate it.
OH.. WAIT...
Yes, I can.
They read and send text messages while they drive.
Moreover, I can't believe people don't read the car manual before they operate it.
OH.. WAIT...
Yes, I can.
They read and send text messages while they drive.
Team Owner
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 22,830
Likes: 13
From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
